"In a Norfolk field or on the streets of Lisbon... my sketchbook is never far away"

About Stephen Martyn

The landscape and the light are my inspiration

I was born and brought up in South London, but in the early 80's I relocated to West Norfolk. Although it was very different culturally I soon grew to love the Norfolk countryside and I have been here ever since. However, I am always keen to explore new places and in recent years I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively.

I had no background in fine art, but in 1993 I chanced upon a programme on Channel 4, presented by Alwyn Crawshaw who was already well known as a TV artist. As the weekly programmes rolled by I became more and more fascinated with what a bit of paint, paper and a couple of brushes could do. And so, I had to have a go!

Luckily, I found an adult education class, tutored by an encouraging and skilled teacher, Mike Tuddenham. Little by little, Mike gave me the skills I needed to become a watercolour artist. Several years of practice later, I found myself standing up at an easel with twenty students watching me. The wheel had turned full circle.

As an artist the Norfolk landscape with its big skies and wide open spaces takes a lot of beating. I love nothing more than to be up on the North Norfolk coast sketching a few boats, or watching a glorious sunset across a muddy Norfolk field.Photo of Stephen Martyn Norfolk Artist However, as a keen hiker, my boots have taken me to many corners of Britain and across the globe. With a sketchbook always in the rucksack and a camera at the ready, I've created many watercolour, pen and wash, and oil paintings that reflect those visits. I am just as happy sketching on the streets of Lisbon, in the Blue Mountains of Australia, or on the Great Wall of China as I am painting scenes that are in my own Norfolk backyard.

Photo of Stephen Martyn sketching on the Great Wall of China

Stephen Martyn

Artist and Art Tutor


I paint the landscape of Norfolk and beyond. My brushes and paints have been at my side around the world, including the USA, South America, India, China, Australia and Europe. In the photo here, I'm sitting sketching on the Great Wall of China!