Simon Williams

I graduated from Nottingham University in 1988 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and Design.
In an effort to find real work, I then graduated from the University of Central England in 1993 with a B.Sc. in Building Surveying, and consequently work as a Chartered Building Surveyor.

My full time work allows me the freedom to spend as long as I feel is necessary on a painting, rather than only as long as I can afford, which is a luxury I appreciate. As my painting style is meticulously slow and pedantic, I feel that the only way to be commercially viable as an artist would be to compromise the quality of my work, which I am not prepared to do. In any case, I wouldn't want to be financially dependent on commissions I have no enthusiasm for.

My chosen painting mediums are acrylic and oil based paints. These allow me to repeatedly re-work areas with both opaque and transparent glazes without disturbing those parts previously painted, which very much suits my painting style. Much of my painting is either done with my fingertips, or freehand airbrushing, where I wipe on, wipe off the colours until I've achieved the effect i'm looking for, with only fine details actually brush applied.

I'm fascinated by the illusion of three dimensional reality on a flat surface, and how seemingly insignificant lighting and subtle shadows can create this effect. It takes days of concentration for me to truly see how things really appear, and to try and accurately recreate the effect in paint. But its worth the effort, and when I paint intensively, I see the world differently to when i'm between paintings which is quite inspiring.

However, my methodical and meticulous technique and desire for realism has not been popular. I've had no shortage of critics and art teachers who have loathed my style over the years. All have predictably tried to cure my desire for things to look realistic, however, I would like to praise my comprehensive school art teachers, Dave Gunning and Malcolm Carr, for giving me the confidence, resilience and encouragement to ignore everyone.


2005 Update
Ignore the above!
I gave up my day job, sold up, and have now emigrated to Oklahoma USA, which you could probably guess was not part of the plan when I named this site Portraits-Uk.
I have now opened my own portrait painting and photography studio, Colorview Portraits, but I still maintain this site and continue to paint commissions for my Uk customers.



Simon :)