Professor Stevens joined the faculty of the Department of Art in 1957. Working in oils, watercolors, and acrylics, his art ranged from impressionistic to abstract landscapes, most of which were inspired by Tennessee and Maine scenery. His work is represented in private collections and in 18 public museums, as well as in major corporate collections. He was instrumental in organizing the Knoxville Watercolor Society and the Deer Isle (Maine) Art Association. His paintings were exhibited in this country and abroad, and his work won 55 awards in the East and Midwest. His intellectual contributions to the life of the university have been recognized by placement of a plaque in his honor on a faculty study.