Stewart Lees’ still life paintings are grounded in close observation and a deep engagement with the act of seeing. Though striving for realism, his work is not photorealist; instead, he seeks to capture the subtle adjustments the eye and mind constantly make when looking at the world. In Oranges, ordinary fruit becomes luminous through careful attention and sustained study. The glowing skins, curling leaves and peeled segment reveal Lees’ fascination with fleeting moments of freshness and change, qualities that make still life painting both compelling and demanding. Working over long periods, he approaches painting as a process of persistence and refinement, embracing uncertainty and continually reworking passages until the composition resolves itself.