Biography
Stephen
Wiltshire
MBE · Hon.FSAI · Hon.FSSAA
An artist who draws detailed cityscapes from memory — sometimes after observing them only briefly from the air.
An Artist Was Born
Stephen Wiltshire MBE is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He has a particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006 and studied Fine Art at City & Guilds Art College.
Stephen was born in London to West Indian parents on 24th April 1974. As a child he was mute and did not relate to other people. Aged three, he was diagnosed as autistic — he had no language and lived entirely in his own world.
At five, Stephen was sent to Queensmill School in London. It was immediately noticed that his only pastime was drawing. He communicated with the world through the language of art — first animals, then London buses, and finally buildings. These drawings show masterful perspective, a whimsical line, and reveal a natural innate artistry.
His teachers encouraged him to speak by temporarily removing his art supplies so that he would be forced to ask for them. Stephen eventually uttered his first word — “paper.” He learned to speak fully at the age of nine. When he was about seven, Stephen became fascinated with sketching landmark London buildings and began winning children’s art competitions.
“His first word was paper — the same as Picasso.”
Stephen Wiltshire — early life
Stephen at work — drawing from observation
- 1974 Born in London on 24th April.
- 1977 Diagnosed as autistic at age three.
- 1979 Enrolled at Queensmill School. Art identified as his language.
- 1981 First word — “paper” — spoken after art supplies removed.
- 1983 Speaks fully at nine. Fascination with London buildings begins.
The Start of a Career
Media interest in Stephen turned nationwide, and the seven-year-old made his first steps towards a lifelong career. By the time he turned eight he received his first commission — from the British Prime Minister — to create a drawing of Salisbury Cathedral.
In 1987, Hugh Casson, former president of London’s Royal Academy of Arts, called him “possibly the best child artist in Britain.” Casson introduced Stephen to literary agent Margaret Hewson, who became a trusted mentor and helped him publish his first book, Drawings (1987).
Hewson arranged Stephen’s first trip to New York City, where he sketched the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building — and met Oliver Sacks, beginning a long and documented friendship. These illustrations formed the basis for his second book, Cities (1989).
Stephen then embarked on a drawing tour of Venice, Amsterdam, Leningrad and Moscow, attracting crowds wherever he stopped. Floating Cities (1991) followed, then a Japanese tour in 1992, and American Dream (1993) featuring Chicago, San Francisco and New York.
“Possibly the best child artist in Britain.”
Hugh Casson, former President, Royal Academy of Arts
With Dustin Hoffman
A life in art
Sell Out Exhibitions & City Panoramas
Drawing New York from memory
The Tokyo panorama — 10 metres, 8 days
In 2001, Stephen appeared in the BBC documentary Fragments of Genius — filmed flying over London by helicopter, then completing a perfectly scaled four-square-mile illustration within three hours, including 12 landmarks and over 200 structures.
In 2003, a major retrospective at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham drew more than 40,000 visitors, shattering all attendance records.
In 2005 Stephen returned to Tokyo for his largest panorama — 10 metres long, completed in 8 days using pen only. Two months later he drew Rome entirely from memory. Hong Kong followed: a 10-metre canvas of Victoria Harbour, created over five days.
Each panorama city is drawn from a single helicopter observation, then reconstructed entirely from memory:
Rome
Dubai
Singapore
Artist of Many Talents
Contrary to the popular misconception that Stephen is only interested in capturing architecture and classic American cars, he often draws portraits of celebrities and close friends in his private sketchbook. He has been creating caricatures since primary school.
In January 2006, Queen Elizabeth II named Stephen a Member of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his services to the art world. “It’s an absolute honour,” his sister Annette told the London Daily Mail. “It brought tears to my Mum’s eyes and to mine, because we’ve all worked so hard for Stephen.”
Later that year, with the encouragement of Annette and her husband Zoltan, Stephen founded his own permanent Art Gallery in London. It subsequently moved to Notting Hill, where visitors are welcomed to his private studio, The Wiltshire Pad.
Stephen completed a two-year course in desktop publishing, earned his postgraduate degree in drawing and printmaking at City & Guilds Art School in 1998, and has been endorsed by The Royal College of Music for his piano and singing.
Awarded MBE, January 2006
Genius Grows Up
In July 2014, Stephen was commissioned to create a panoramic drawing of Singapore for the National Collection, celebrating the nation’s 50th birthday. An extraordinary 150,000 visitors attended his exhibition in just five days — a national attendance record.
In 2019, the 80th floor observatory of the Empire State Building officially reopened bearing Stephen’s design, based on his panorama of New York created live in the building in 2017. The $165 million redevelopment includes a new 10,000 square feet museum space selling reproductions of his work.
That same year, Stephen’s film Billions of Windows premiered at Everyman Cinema, London. His gallery moved to Notting Hill — now called The Wiltshire Pad — where Stephen continues to draw every day and discover new cities.
“The most intriguing quality of an exciting city must have chaos and order at the same time — the avenues and squares, skyscrapers as well as traffic jams.”
Stephen Wiltshire, interview in New York
Genius in action
The Wiltshire Gallery, Notting Hill, London
Did You Know?
Favourite Artist
Richard Estes — he admires almost anything from the hyperrealist painter.
First Word
"Paper" — just like Picasso. He spoke fully at the age of nine.
American Cars
Stephen owns more than 70 classic American cars, including a 1969 Cadillac Sedan De Ville and a 1974 Dodge Monaco Police car.
Racing Driver
He drove a sport coupé on Brands Hatch and broke the clutch several times.
Perfect Pitch
Endorsed by The Royal College of Music to perform piano and singing.
Largest Panorama
Tokyo — 10 metres in length. Took 8 days to complete using pen only.
First Commission
Commissioned at age 8 by the British Prime Minister to draw Salisbury Cathedral.
Quickest Sketch
Two minutes — a quick sketch of the Statue of Liberty.
Favourite Films
Rain Man and Saturday Night Fever.
New York Penthouse
Stephen designed his own penthouse in New York as a teenager.
Multimedia
Completed a 2-year course in desktop publishing ahead of all other students.
Private Sketchbook
He draws more portraits of people than buildings — all in his private sketchbook.
Favourite Brands
Apple, Diesel, Burberry, Nike and Bose.
Drawing Pen
Uses Staedtler pigment liner pens for all pen and ink work.
Explore Stephen’s Artwork
Originals, limited editions, open edition prints and framed panoramas — shipped worldwide from London.