It was on his journey from his home in Cheshire, as a student to Bolton College of Art everyday that initially brought alive his interest in illustration and detailed paintings.
Often though, en route he would call into Manchester Art Gallery and look at the extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.
The success of the first series of books and Bradbury's distinctive artwork helped catapult his illustration career; and in 1982, he was awarded the Pan Books Artist of the Year award.
[2] In 1996, Paper Tiger Books published Reflections: The Art of Stephen Bradbury.
[citation needed] After achieving his degree, he started on a major series of oil paintings, which was to become The Facets Project, consisting of 50 canvases and taking five years to complete.