Opening his Royal Opera Arcade gallery the same year as he was awarded an MBE for services to art, the architectural artist Stephen Wiltshire shares his favourite local spots after ten years in St James's.
Stephen Wiltshire is an artist who draws and paints
detailed cityscapes. Wiltshire has a particular talent for drawing
lifelike, accurate representations of cities, after having only observed
them briefly.
His work is popular all over the world and held in a
number of important collections. He was awarded an MBE for services to
the art world in 2006.
As a child Wiltshire was mute, and did not relate to other
people. Aged three, he was diagnosed as autistic and had no language
and lived entirely in his own world. At five, Wiltshire was sent to
Queensmill School in London, where it soon became apparent he
communicated with the world through the language of drawing; first
animals, then London buses, and finally buildings. These drawings showed
a masterful perspective, a whimsical line, and revealed a natural
innate artistry.
Stephen Wiltshire
I like to draw cities. Cities are beautiful, the
skylines... the high rise buildings! I have been drawing my whole life
and have travelled all over the world showing my representation of what I
see. People see the world through my eyes. I take a helicopter ride and
see the city and make sketches in my A4 pad.
I am from London and my gallery is in the Royal Opera
Arcade. I celebrated the gallery’s 10 year anniversary with an in-store
signing. People came to say hello and asked me to sign drawings and
postcards. I like to draw everyday – buildings,
taxis, buses – and I draw people in my sketchpad. Sometimes my sister
suggests buildings in London that I haven’t sketched before.
I love the local area near the gallery, my favourite
places are The Mall, Jermyn Street and The Ritz Hotel, and my favourite
lunch spot is the sandwich shop in the Royal Opera Arcade. The Mall is a
nice street area – everything is uniformed and in line. Trees line the
road and I like the details with the Union Jack flags. It was brilliant
to watch the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary
flypast on The Mall recently and I like watching the Royal parades and
celebrations. There is always something happening with lots of people.
In 2012, I decided to update the London Alphabet Series.
This includes The Ritz Hotel on a poster. The building is very classic
with good features and details. It’s very grand! My work has lots of
information: I will include the correct number of windows, shadows and
features. I often draw in my studio at the gallery from memory but also
like to wander off and challenge my mind with the new developments
happening in London. Sometimes I just listen to music: it helps me to
focus and zone in.
London Library would be a great place to sit and capture
St James's Square. I often sit in St James’s Square. It’s very nice with
classic buildings and it's a good place to take my sketchbook.