Stefan Luszczak is a painter based in Saffron Walden, Essex. Born in Nottingham, he went on to study sculpture at Central School of Art & Design (now Central St. Martins). Whilst studying at Central he was influenced by his Ukrainian ancestry via Eastern European iconography. Because of Central's proximity to the British Museum, his work at the time was also heavily influenced by Egyptian art. Since moving to Saffron Walden he has been inspired by the rural Essex countryside and now predominantly works as a landscape painter. He works from photographs in the winter in his studio and outdoors for the rest of the year. Stefan has also been inspired recently from regular trips to County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland, the mountains and coast providing a sharp contrast to the flatter Essex landscape and he has found the many changes there throughout the day and seasons even more dramatic to record and witness. Stefan enjoys painting from the same vantage point during different seasons and different times of the day.