Biography
Simon enjoyed many years as a successful graphic designer in both the print and broadcast industries. Notable achievements include being commissioned to design a set of stamps for the Royal Mail and receiving a Design and Art Director’s award for his Channel Four on-air campaigns.
Simon has now turned attention to painting full time. He works across a number of mediums, primarily Oil and Charcoal and his style is figurative with an emphasis on using lighting and gesture to heighten the viewer’s appreciation of everyday scenes and objects.
Dissatisfied with the conventional teaching he received at art college he turned to the atelier system in order to learn the techniques of the old masters such as Velasquez and Sargent. This is knowledge which he feels is being rapidly lost amid the current trend towards modernism and abstraction. To this end he received rigorous training at London Fine Art Studios, Sarum Studios in Salisbury and the Charles Cecil studios in Florence.
Simon accepts commissions and included in these is his portrait of Sir Vince Cable. He also paints landscape and still life, drawing upon the many scenes and views around the Richmond and Twickenham area.
In order to ensure the continuation of traditional skills he also teaches, offering one to one or one to two coaching from his studio in West London. Simon has also taught A level students at Waldegrave School helping them to improve their understanding of figurative drawing and painting.
If you are interested in discussing a commission be it portrait or any other topic or if you are interested in tuition please feel free to contact him.