About Lee Steele

I was born and grew up in and around Whitby, North Yorkshire and have traversed a diverse path from my Fathers car body repair workshop, North Sea oil rigs and the therapy departments in medium and high security psychiatric units (working). Along the way I studied 3D design in York and ran my own gallery and studio in Robin Hoods Bay.

I now work from my own dedicated studio and workshop in East Yorkshire, where as well as running classes, I create original, hand-built retro-industrial pieces, drawing inspiration from the rusting remains of the industrial and shipping economies along the East coast.

My current wok is heavily influenced by the processes of erosion and corrosion, both physical and psychological, as well my perspective and reaction to the current global pandemic.

From a formless lump of clay, I started to carve chains. It has become a form of therapy and meditation. Link by link, day by day. The position of each link affecting the position of the next and influencing the whole.

I have exhibited work in several galleries in Yorkshire as well as in London and Lisbon as part of group exhibitions. I have run workshops for York University Archaeological department, the Leeds International Medieval Congress, and the Royal Armouries, and have had commissions sent as far as Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia.