About the Artist
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I'm Shiv. You might know me as Stoofy.
I'm a contemporary mixed media artist based in the UK. I make bold, original paintings — layered, textured, foiled, and made with an unreasonable amount of care.
I've been building Stoofy for years: starting with hand-painted works and cards, evolving into mixed-media originals and hand-drawn and digitally designed illustration — including collaborations with authors, museums and musicians — and increasingly ambitious painted work that refuses to sit quietly on a wall.
Every original painting is conceived, painted, layered and finished by me. There's no team, no factory, no shortcut. Just hours of work, a well-stocked studio, and a deep, possibly unreasonable commitment to detail.
What I make
My work sits at the intersection of traditional signwriting craft, pop nostalgia, and maximalist contemporary art. Think bold type, vivid colour, metallic foil, hand-painted Ben-Day dots, high-gloss finishes, and layers you could lose yourself in.
Subjects range from vintage horror icons reimagined with warmth and wit, to music-inspired originals, to typographic pieces that say exactly what they mean — loudly, and with excellent kerning.
Each original painting is unrepeatable. When it's gone, it's gone. Every piece is signed, dated, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
These are not décor items. They're original artworks made with gallery-level craft, designed to anchor a room and outlast a trend.
Why I make it
I believe your space should reflect who you actually are — not who a showroom thinks you should be.
My work exists for people who want their walls to have a point of view. Who choose colour deliberately. Who'd rather own one extraordinary thing than a roomful of forgettable ones.
Art should feel like a decision, not a default. A Stoofy piece on your wall is a statement — about taste, about personality, about refusing to settle for beige.
A bit more about me
I trained as an actor before I became an artist — which means I understand storytelling, commitment, and the particular terror of putting yourself in front of an audience and meaning it.
I'm neurodivergent, proudly LGBTQIA+, and feminist. My work reflects those values: inclusive, expressive, anti-beige by conviction. Some pieces are playful. Some are political. Most are both.
I've collaborated with authors, musicians, and cultural institutions through hand-drawn and digitally designed illustration work. I'm interested in ambitious projects, gallery relationships, and working with people who understand that original art is an investment — in craft, in story, in something genuinely irreplaceable.
Working with me
Collectors: If you're interested in a specific piece, or want to be notified when new originals drop, get in touch or join the collector list. I occasionally take on select commissions for the right project.
Interior designers & stylists: I work with trade clients directly. Original works can be reserved, and I'm happy to discuss your project. Head to the Collector & Trade page or get in touch — hello@stoofy.uk
Galleries & curators: Always open to a conversation. Reach out.
Follow the work on Instagram. Read what's going on in the studio on Substack. And if you want to see what's currently available — the shop is here.