Stephen Darbishire (1940- present, British) is a contemporary artist who lives in the English Lake District. Highly influenced by his surroundings, Darbishire concentrates on cottage and farm house interiors. These impressionistic paintings display a use of primarily spring colors with sunlight pouring through windows. Darbishire includes his cats in these quiet domestic paintings by placing them in typical cat poses by fires in open hearths, on tables, window ledges, and of course napping on couches and in chairs. The viewer cannot help but want to step into these lovely works of art.
Darbishire’s father was a doctor and his mother a singer. Upon leaving school, he trained under Da Fano and received a scholarship to the Byam Shaw School. He traveled throughout Europe and officially started his career as an artist in 1983. In that year, Darbishire exhibited at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and others. He then became a member of The Royal Society of British Artists.
“Living in the Lake District, my love for my surroundings has always been the main inspiration for my paintings. The interiors of cottages and farm houses, sunlight pouring through windows, fires burning in open hearths, tables laid for afternoon tea, vases of flowers from hedgerows and celebrations of the seasons. I paint in oils on board, in a traditional manner, mostly from sketches in my studio but also from life.”
Visit his website here.

Cat in Front of the Fire

Cat Nap

Cat Napping by the Window

Cat Napping on the Couch

Cat on a Window Ledge

Cats in the Living room

In the Kitchen

Mimi and Polly by the Fire

Orange Preserves with Orange Tabby Cat

Playing Trains

Relaxing Cats

Sunday-Morning with Cat

The First Snowdrop

Tuxedo Cat in a Comfortable Chair

Waiting for Christmas
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the amount of details and realism in his paintings is just incredible. I wonder how long it took him to complete each one? Simply amazing and beautiful!
Yes, I agree. I just want to step into the paintings.