Anthony Stileman was educated at Wellington College, Kingston Art College and the Royal College of Art.
In addition to a natural aptitude for drawing, he also developed the ability to make a cricket ball swing such that, at school, he took 67 wickets in a season, a feat yet to be surpassed.
The propensity for painting and bowling was probably in his DNA. His mother, Barbie, trained as a calligrapher and book-binder and was still in demand to decorate her church noticeboard in her 80’s. His father, David,?in addition to a distinguished career in the Army, was a highly-regarded rugby union player representing Harlequins, the Armed Services and Berkshire County.
Anthony’s professional career has seen him work as a creative in a range of advertising agencies and also in a freelance capacity. He has led major campaigns for everything from Heinz Baked Beans to Heineken, from Lloyd’s Bank to Legal & General. His work has garlanded international awards including a prestigious gold at Cannes.
For decades he has been chided either by sportspeople – as better suited to the faculty of arts – or by artists as being far too obsessed with batting averages and the scrummaging abilities of front row forwards. In addition to being an alumnus of the Royal College of Art, he has been a member of the MCC for more than 43 years and has held Season Tickets at Harlequins for longer than he can remember.
This new exhibition, along with his debut exhibition in 2019, are belated attempts to reconcile two passions that have dominated his life. A life that he also acknowledges has been gifted and nurtured by the grace of God.
