Simon Bull (born in March 1958) is an English-born artist living in America.
EARLY YEARS
Simon Bull was born in Bedfordshire, England. The second of four children. His father, Ian Bull served as an officer in the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department of the British Army. Ian’s extensive military postings stationed the family around the world in Guyana, Hong Kong, Germany, and Northern Ireland. Simon went to boarding school in Yorkshire, attending Ripon Cathedral Choir School from 1965 to 1969 and in Surrey, at the Royal Russell School from 1969 to 1976. In 1976 he took a one-year Foundation course at Gloucestershire College of Art and Design and went on to graduate in 1980 from Leeds Polytechnic with a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art. He studied printmaking and Fine Art under Norman Webster and Norman Ackroyd RA.
His time at Leeds was marked by his interest in and study of the masters, such as Henri Fantin-Latour, Jean-Baptiste-Simon Chardin, and Rembrandt; he wrote his dissertation on watercolorist John Sell Cotman. In his graduating year he exhibited his etching Jackie at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and his works were acquired by Leeds City Art Gallery.
CAREER
-
In 2000
- Simon won the British Fine Art Trade Guild's Artist Print Award for the top-selling print artist in the UK.
-
In 2002
- Simon and fellow artist Thomas Kinkade and Howard Behrens were selected to commemorate the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
-
In 2003
- Simon was the first British Artist to win the NALED Award for a limited edition print. He won again in 2004, and was awarded the NALED Medal of Honor.
-
In 2007
- Simon was invited to create a series of paintings that celebrated the life of Muhammad Ali. Many of these works are now on permanent display in the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. He has spoken on behalf of the Muhammad Ali Center at the Vancouver Film Festival for the premiere of the movie Facing Ali.
-
In 2009
- Simon was commissioned to paint US President Barack Obama by boxing legend Muhammad Ali. His two joint portraits of Barack Obama and Muhammad Ali were unveiled at the Kentucky Bluegrass Ball on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration in Washington DC by actress Ashley Judd.
-
In 2017
- Simon opened Meuse Gallery in Carmel, CA on the famous Ocean Avenue.
-
In 2019
- Simon was honored as the Official Artist of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. During the event, he lead a "Beyond the Studio" workshop at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
- Simon opened his second gallery location in Saint Helena, CA on downtown Main Street.
-
In 2020
- "The Free Birds Giveaway": during the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown, Simon gave away over 350 paintings of birds, free to anyone who asked for one.
- Simon was honored to be the Official Artist of the Pasadera Concours.
-
In 2021
- Simon published his autobiography, "Artist, Drawn From Life".
- He was honored as the Official Artist of the Pasadera Concours for the second year running.
-
In 2022
- Simon went Viral on Instagram with over 400 million+ views and 630,000+ followers.
- Simon painted to raise funds for Ukrainian Refugee Humanitarian Relief Efforts.
- He collaborated with jazz musician Ibrahim Maalouf to create the cover for his Grammy Nominated album "Capacity To Love".
- Simon was honored as the Official Artist of Music@Menlo's 20th Anniversary.
-
In 2023
- Simon began "Astons On The Avenue" featuring Aston Martin's on display during the famous Concours D'elegance.
- Simon's painting was chosen to feature in Lamborghini's 60th Anniversary Gallery in New York City.
- Simon opened Meuse Gallery in downtown Aspen, CO.
-
In 2024
- Simon, along with the Fine Art Restoration Co in the UK, curated "Banksy Restored + Reclaimed" at Meuse Gallery Aspen.
- The second annual "Astons On The Avenue" helped raise over $8k for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Follow Simon Bull on all Social Media Platforms - @simonbullart