Stephan Whittle was born in Leeds, England in 1953. He began etching at Chelsea School of Art, London in 1970 and continued at Brighton College of Art, from which he received an honors degree in fine art in 1975. The next few years were spent in Switzerland and England, working as artist, teacher and graphic designer. In 1980, he established his etching studio near Skelmersdale, Lancashire and began exhibiting in galleries around Great Britain. Stephan's finely detailed miniature scenes soon gained popularity as far away as Japan, Australia and North America.

Stephan's vision of nature as a place of harmony and balance began to be expressed in his early etchings. He exhibited in art shows in Tokyo, New York, Frankfurt and Paris. Always in search of a new challenge and broader horizons, Stephan moved his studio to Iowa, USA in 1992 with his wife and two children. His arrival in America inspired brighter colors and larger pieces and he developed a method of embossing designs around the border of the etched images. In 1997, the Whittle family relocated to Sebastopol, California where Stephan began a series of etchings depicting vineyards and wine related themes. His work continued to move forward in color and expression, always seeking new methods to capture the vitality and luminosity of his surroundings.

Tragically on July 27, 2000, Stephan lost his life in a swimming accident in Upper Angora Lake, Tahoe while on vacation with his family. His wife, Phillipa, carries on the printing of his work in his studio in California.