Steve Brown has been a tutor at the RCA for eight years providing particular support to Ceramics & Glass students interested in combining those materials with imagery and exploring the printed surface. Steve has been a practising screenprinter within the applied arts for 26 years, working commercially and across a wide range of materials.
Between 1984 and 1998 Steve was a screenprinter for the textile industry. Working at a number of companies, he was trained and involved in all aspects of work, by hand and in large-scale commercial production. During this period Steve built a vast amount of the experiential knowledge necessary for interpreting images into printed materials.
Upon deciding to return to education Steve undertook a BA as a Designer Maker at Plymouth University before studying for his MA at the RCA, graduating in 2002. During this period Steve threw himself into the development of a number of new processes and approaches for combining the printed image with materials and form, especially ceramics and glass.
In 2003 Steve took a post at Hertfordshire University teaching on the BA Contemporary Applied Art course. He also began to teach at the RCA and a number of other universities as a visiting lecturer, where he has continued to support others who are interested in exploring new ways of combining the disciplines of printmaking and object-making.
Returning to study a PhD at the RCA, Steve focused on this relationship to produce a body of work and exegesis entitled 'The Physicality of Print'. These developments explored an approach where image and form can be fully integrated at an early stage of the making process. This project was a collaborative doctoral award between the RCA and the Victoria and Albert Museum, funded by the AHRC. He regularly presents his research results at conferences both nationally and internationally.
Steve currently divides his time between teaching and making work in his studio. He has contributed to a number of books and exhibits internationally. Steve also has a number of commercial clients and acts as a print consultant for the ceramic design team Queensbury Hunt. He has developed a good relationship with the Bullseye Glass Co. over a number of years, and they have supported his development of a new lo-tech, accessible approach for 3D printing glass, exhibiting his work and asking him to disseminate his findings at the 2011 BeCon conference and series of workshops in Portland, Oregon, USA.
In his academic role he has recently completed a postdoctoral course in Supervising Research at University of the Arts London. He is second supervisor to one research student, as well as contributing to the general support of research in the programme. In addition, Steve is external supervisor on the glass course at Swansea University and visits Glas & Keramikskolen (Bornholm, Denmark), St Lucas College of Art (Ghent, Belgium), University of Ulster, Bath Spa University, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University for the Creative Arts Farnham, Plymouth University and Hertfordshire University.