Stephenson talked about his life in Bulgaria; “One has to be very wealthy (in the UK) to afford the lifestyle I have in Bulgaria.” Private Photo
English watercolor artist Martin Stephenson has stated that he is “duty bound” to record the Bulgarian rural way of life before it changes for ever.
In an exclusive interview for Novinite.com Stephenson likened Bulgaria to Venice; “Bulgaria has influenced my work very much. I liken Bulgaria to Venice (without the canals)! A city I have visited twice and again on my way driving through Europe to get here to my new home. If the peeling facades were in Venice, artists and camera clicking hordes would be clambering to record them.”
He also heaped praise on Bulgarian artist Ivan Russev; “I have also seen his work at my framers in Burgas and can spot his oils a mile off. The quality of his work is exemplorary.”
Stephenson concluded by talking about his life in Bulgaria; “One has to be very wealthy (in the UK) to afford the lifestyle I have in Bulgaria.” He added that two areas in Bulgaria have influenced hios work the most; “my own village Cherkovo with it’s dilapidated buildings and church and the slow pace of life and it’s animals and farming traditions. The second is the faded grandeur of Burgas.”
Stephenson is currently gearing up for an October 14 exhibition - “Two Englishmen Abroad” - in Karnobat alongside UK Photographer Geoff Taylor.