Like a lot of young shaver , Stephen Wiltshire found comfortableness in the pages of a sketchpad . Born in 1974to West Indian parents , the London indigene faced some alone challenges early on . While most minor start uttering words within their first two age , Wiltshire was mute . At age 3 he was diagnosed with autism . Unable to communicate his thoughts and feel , Wiltshire transmit his zip onto vacuous varlet . " When I was a young boy , I could n’t talk and draw was my way of expressing myself , " he says via electronic mail . " I drew animals , London bus , and sometimes demolitions of turgid buildings as well . It helped me to say what I could n’t with words . "
Fast - forward 45 twelvemonth , and not only has Wiltshire continued the practice of ego - reflexion through artistic production , but he ’s become one of the most successful and renowned artists in Britain and beyond . His commissions havefour- to eight - month waiting lists , and he ’s routinely stream by flashbulb papa and lover clamoring for autograph , as is apparent in the trailer for his upcoming feature duration documentary , " Billions of Windows . " And while the journeying to his present - day victory was n’t exactly childlike or straightforward , Wiltshire ’s unique story has kept the world enamor for decades .
Using Visual Art Instead of Words
At years 5 , Wiltshire was sent to London ’s Queensmill School , which specializes in the education of baby and young masses with autism . The faculty quickly realized Wiltshire was entirely subject of communication — he just choose pencil strokes over sentences . Once they picked up on his attachment to art , they began experimenting , temporarily taking away his materials to see if and how he ’d react . The tactics worked : Wiltshire spoke . " Paper , " he said to the stave , attempting to reclaim his artistic tools . He slowly formulate his vocabulary , speak in full sentences by age 9 . But before he mastered verbal language , he present an aptitude for artwork that floored those around him , producing unfathomably detailed sketches of animals , London landmarks , and architectural structures by eld 7 .
" I relish drawing the chaos and decree at the same time — the rush hour traffic versus square avenues and skyscrapers and the hoi polloi who make these city work , " Wiltshire says . " Also , I like that some parts of the scenery will never interchange and others constantly develop . "
That trenchant position on the surrounding urban landscape painting and his power to convey it on newspaper initiate to pique the sake of Wiltshire ’s teachers . One instructor in particular companion the new scholarly person on drawing excursion and enter his oeuvre in children ’s art competitions . Wiltshire start winning awards , and soon the local press set out questioning how such a young artist could produce such telling work .
But others — like Prime Minister Edward Heath — did n’t require convincing ; when Wiltshire was just 8 , Heath became one of his first paying clients , purchasing one of his drawings of Salisbury Cathedral . In 1987 , 13 - yr - old Wiltshire seem in a BBC program yell " The gooselike Wise Ones , " in which Hugh Casson , a former president of London ’s Royal Academy of Arts , referred to him as " possibly the serious minor artist in Britain . "
It was Casson who introduced the stripling to literary agent Margaret Hewson , and aid him publish his first book , " draught , " consisting of his early sketches . Two years later on , after his first trip abroad with Hewson to see and chalk out New York City ’s fabled skyscraper , Wiltshire resign his 2d book , entitle " Cities . "
" I like the inside information of the windows , shades , sharp edge , and foliage , " Wiltshire says of his affectionateness for urban landscape painting . " I often contribute mood and atmosphere to these position and sometimes convert bit and pieces to make them look better . "
Drawing the Cities of the World
After the passing of his second book , Wiltshire embark on a lottery hitch of Venice , Amsterdam , Leningrad , and Moscow , roll up original drawings for his third book , " Floating metropolis . " In 1992 , a Tokyo - based television caller invited the untried artist to tour Japan and create drawings of landmark bodily structure like Shinjuku ’s metropolitan government construction , and a year later , Wiltshire issue yet another Holy Writ style " American Dream , " including cityscape of Chicago , San Francisco , and New York , and desert landscapes of Arizona .
Wiltshire ’s sinful skill and fertile production captivated audience , but his creative method acting invited even more captivation : Many of his painstakingly detaileddrawings were produced entirely from memory , includinga panoramic piece depicting the city of Rome , including iconic structures like the Vatican and St. Peter ’s Cathedral .
Dozens of outside misstep , accolades and calling highlights later , Wiltshire nowowns his own lasting prowess galleryin London ’s Royal Opera Arcade , and has been named by Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the Order of the British Empire . And while architecture and cityscape are the subject of some of his most popular works , he find joyfulness in creatively capturing everything from fame portraits to authoritative American auto . " I love motion-picture show from the ' 70s where these huge , easy , and powerful car were journey on the all-inclusive roads like boat , " Wiltshire says . " I also like the culture of the ' 70s , just like discotheque as well as the earlier time like the ' 60s with Motor City music . "
Music continues to encounter a major role in his creative process to this day . " I listen to medicine when I string , " he says . " sixty Motor City , R&B , ' 70s disco , and the late charts . It helps me focus better . I also play the pianoforte and sing , but it ’s just a pursuit . "
Despite the astronomical succeeder Wiltshire has already achieved , he continues to draw every exclusive day , endlessly seeking out new ways to capture the human race and abiding by his own personal catchword , " do the best you may , and never break . "
