Stephen Johnston was born in 1987 in Co.Antrim, Ireland. In 2010 he graduated with a BA in Fine and Applied Arts from University of Ulster in Belfast.
​
Just after graduating Johnston had his first major solo show Perceptions, Art Tank. Belfast, Northern Ireland (2011). Johnston has enjoyed early success in his career winning various awards including; The De Veres Art Award, The Towry Award- best from Northern Ireland at the NOAC and The KPMG Young Artist Award. Johnston paints full time from his studio in Ireland. He has exhibited work in Belfast, Dublin, London, including the Saatchi Gallery. He exhibits in Paris and in Brisbane Australia. Johnston also often exhibits at various international open Academy exhibitions,competition and group shows.
​
Johnston’s work is held in numerous private art collections around the world. He has been award the SIAP Award and had work acquired publicly by the Northern Ireland Arts Council. Johnston has also completed a portrait commission for Queens University that is currently hanging as part of their esteemed collection in the ‘great hall’.
Solo Exhibitions
​
​
Elements Of War, Gormleys Fine Art, Dublin and Belfast. 2019
Best Before, Naughton Gallery, Queens University, Beflast. Northern Ireland. 2019
The Unreal, Lethbridge Gallerym Brisbane, Australia, 2016
Observations, LethBridge Gallery, Brisbane, Australia. 2014
Tommy Bowe Series, The Merchant Hotel. Gormleys Fine Art, Belfast, Northern Ireland. 2014
Perceptions, Art Tank. Belfast, Northern Ireland. 2011
Group Exhibitions
​
​
2020
London Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art. London. England.
2019
London Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art. London. England.
ART SOURCE, The Royal Dublin Society, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland
2018
London Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art. London. England.
188th Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
136th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland
ART SOURCE, The Royal Dublin Society, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland
Lost Warhol Exhibition, association with Karen Bystedt, Brown Thomas, Dublin
ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London, England
2017
Winter Contemporary, Gormleys Fine Art, Dublin. Ireland.
Heart of Hope, Crescent Art Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
ART SOURCE, The Royal Dublin Society, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition, York St Mary’s, York Museums Trust.
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland
135th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland
London Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art. London. England.
2016
Hennessy Portrait Award, National Gallery. Dublin, Ireland.
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland.
AAF Battersea, Battersea Park, London. England
134th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition, Morphets, North Yorkshire.
37th Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane, Australia.
New Contemporary, Gormleys Fine Art, Dublin. Ireland.
London Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art. London. England.
2015
Hennessy Portrait Award, National Gallery. Dublin, Ireland.
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland.
134th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Semblance, Gormleys Fine Art Galery, Dublin, Ireland
Heart of Hope, Crescent Art Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
185th Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
36th Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane, Australia.
20|21 International Art Fair, Gormleys Fine Art, London, England
2014
133rd Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
184th Royal 183rd Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
​
2013
132nd Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition. Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
183rd Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
10000 Art Award Exhibition, LethBridge Gallery. Brisbane, Australia. Work Highly Commended.
2012
London International Creative Competition, London. England. Work Shortlisted.
131st Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum. Belfast, Northern Ireland
182nd Royal HibernianAcademy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
The National Open Art Competition, The Prince’s Foundation Gallery. London. England
2011
130th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum. Belfast, Northern Ireland
Art Aid Exhibition, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Saatchi ArtParis. Art Paris, le Grand Palais, Paris, France.
Winter Contemporary Exhibition. Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Northern Ireland.
​
2010
Art of Nurture, Saatchi Gallery, London, England
Art of Nurture, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England Awards
​
​
Awards
ING Discerning Eye Regional Winner, ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London, England
The Tyrone Guthrie Award, 136th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
KPMG Young Artist Award. 135th Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
National Award - Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition. Morphets, North Yorkshire.
Artist Portfolio Magazine Award. Magazine
SIAP Award. Arts conceal of Northern Ireland
TOWRY Award - Best from Northern Ireland. The National Open Art Competition, The Prince’s Foundation Gallery. London. England
The De Veres Art Award- For work of Distinction. 182nd Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
Diageo Award: Emerging Artist Award, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Carson McDowel Award, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Art of Nurture Regional Winner, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England.
Collections
Church of Ireland, The Bishop Rt Revd John McDowell, Collection of Sitting Bishops from 1600's, Clougher, Northern Ireland.
Belfast Royal Academy, Principle Moore Dickson, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Great Hall Portraits, Professor Margaret Mullett, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Arts Council Collection, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Open University Public Collection, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
​
Education
​
2010 BA (Hons) Fine and Applied Art. University of Ulster.
2006 Diploma in Foundation Studies (In Art and Design). University of Ulster.
​
Representation
Ireland : Gormleys Fine Art