This February, Almiro Gallery will be showing a series of new paintings by acclaimed local artist Stephen Collett. We are enormously pleased that Stephen has chosen Almiro to launch his first exhibition of Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, as he is certainly one of the rising stars of the contemporary art scene.
          
Stephen says he is influenced by the French impressionists, Cezanne in particular. However Turner is his main influence, having techniques and practices that were way ahead of their time. Stephen Collett's own artistic career began very early. At the age of five he sold his first painting and he won many awards and prizes throughout his childhood. At just 14 he went to France and worked alongside Kevin Pearsh for a summer, developing his own style and learning new techniques.
          
Despite his obvious talent, Stephen's advanced ideas about contemporary painting were thought too radical by some, causing him to be banned from his school's art department and thrown out of his A level art class at the 17. He went on to study Architecture at the University of Liverpool for three years before taking up art full time.
          
Stephen has just returned from a very successful exhibition at New York's Jadite Gallery and he is planning further International shows in London, Paris and Berlin later this year.
          
The exhibition runs from February 16th to March 2nd 2008. There will be a private viewing on Friday February15th with complimentary wine and cocktails. Doors open 6pm to 9pm.