BIOGRAPHY
ARTIST: BRIAN SIMONS 1050 BANK ST.,
BORN: NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. VICTORIA, BC. V8S-4B4
ART EDUCATION: SELF-TAUGHT TEL: (250)598-2892
Being a self-taught artist, I have derived much of my inspiration from the “GROUP OF SEVEN”, the French Impressionists, and the Writings of BaháÂ’uÂ’lláh (BaháÂ’í Faith).
My family and I moved to Vancouver Island in 1988 from Alberta where I first began to paint (approx. 15yrs.ago).
With increasing confirmation and success in my work since that time, I decided in June 1993 to pursue painting on a full-time basis.
During the last few years, I have had many successes and completed several commission pieces for architects, a television production company, and numerous corporate and private collectors. Aside from my studio, my work can be seen at:
KURBATOFF GALLERY, VANCOUVER, B.C.
MAIN STREET GALLERY, SIDNEY, B.C.
WILLOW GALLERY, TORONTO, ON
SOUTHSHORE GALLERY, SOOKE, B.C.
AULD KIRK GALLERY, SHAWNIGAN LAKE, B.C.
WEBSITE: http://www.briansimons.com
ARTISTÂ’S STATEMENT:
“IN MY WORK, I ATTEMPT TO EXPRESS SOMETHING MORE THAN THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE SUBJECT. IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO PORTRAY ACCURATELY WHAT I SEE, BUT RATHER TO ALLOW WHAT I SEE TO SHOW ITSELF TO ME. MY PART IS TO FREELY AND JOYOUSLY PAINT AND LET THE RESULTS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. I FEEL THAT SUCCESSFUL PAINTING JUST HAPPENS AND THE END RESULT CANNOT BE ANTICIPATED AND IS THEREFORE VERY SURPRISING TO THE PAINTER. THE MORE A PAINTER CAN “NOT PAINT” SO TO SPEAK, THE MORE SPACE BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR THIS COMMUNICATION TO HAPPEN. IT IS A KIND OF EFFORTLESS ACCOMPLISHMENT WHOSE SUCCESS IS NOT MEASURED BY THE WORK ITSELF, BUT RATHER IN WHAT IS STIRRED OR EVOKED IN THE VIEWER. POSSIBLY, THE REAL FRUIT OF PAINTING OR ART, IS THAT IT HAS THE POWER TO AWAKEN THE SLEEPING ARTIST WITHIN EACH OF US, CREATING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR SEEING AND ENLARGING OUR CAPACITY TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY WHICH SURROUNDS US.”

CANADIAN CORPORATE COLLECTORS

• THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA/THE MALTWOOD GALLERY, VICTORIA, B.C.
• RAY MCLEAN-TRIAD EQUITIES, VANCOUVER B.C.
• GREATER VICTORIA HOSPITAL SOCIETY (JUAN DE FUCA HOSPITAL, VICTORIA, B.C.)
• ”X-FILES” TELEVISION PROGRAM (RENTAL) VANCOUVER, B.C.
• ABIGAILS HOTEL-VICTORIA, BC.
• GEOGRAPH INTERNATION, VANCOUVER B.C.
• CREADIE&TAIT CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, VICTORIA, B.C.
• MONDAY PUBLICATIONS LTD, VICTORIA, B.C.
• BELLVUE BLDG. CORP. VICTORIA, B.C.
• OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.
• LANDSDOWNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.
• S.J.WILLIS HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.
• AULD KIRK GALLERY, SHAWNIGAN LAKE, B.C. (NANCY ROSEBOROUGH)
• KITSILANO SHOPPING CENTER, VANCOUVER B.C.
• OLSEN FINACIAL CONSULTANTS , VANCOUVER B.C.
• FRIDAY STREET PRODUCTIONS, VICTORIA, B.C.
• ALKO INVESTMENTS, VANCOUVER B.C.
• THERMAL KING GLASS, VICTORIA, B.C.
• AINSWORTH LUMBER, VANCOUVER, B.C.
• WINDEMERE REAL ESTATE, VANCOVUER B.C
• PROGRESSIVE CONTRACTING, VANCOUVER, B.C.
• MOKA ENTERTAINMENT, VICTORIA, B.C.
• DA VINCI JEWELERS, VICTORIA, B.C.
• CMV ENTERPRISES, VICTORIA, B.C.
• HEAVY LIFTERS,VICTORIA, B.C.


EXHIBITIONS
SOLO-SHOWS
• THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE GALLERY, QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. 2005
• GOWARD HOUSE APRIL, 2002
• MOKA HOUSE COOK STREET VILLAGE JAN 1998
• SOUTH SHORE GALLERY (SOOKE) MAY 1997
• HIDDEN SPACE GALLERY (SOOKE) MAY 1996
• HARRINGTON FINE ART (VANCOUVER) NOV-DEC.1993
• QUIN GALLERY (VICTORIA) OCT.1993
• NIEVAART GALLERY (SYDNEY) APR.1993
GROUP-SHOWS
• INTERNAIONAL SYPOSIUM OF PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS, HELD IN
CHICOUTIMI, QUEBEC, JUNE 2004. INVITED TO BE ARTIST REPRESENTATIVE FROM B.C.
• SIDNEY FINE ART SHOW (JURIED ENTRY) 2003,2004
• SOOKE FINE ARTS 2004 (JURIED ENTRY)1998,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004
• SOOKE FINE ARTS 1999 (JURIED ENTRY) *JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD
• ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1998
• ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1997
• SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1996 (JURIED ENTRY)
• MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1992,1993,1996
• ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1996
• SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1995 (JURIED ENTRY)
• ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1995
• RED CROSS ANNUAL ART SHOW (VICTORIA) JUNE 1995
• SPIRIT WORKS/ART AND BELIEF (DUNCAN) FEB. 1995
• ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS”WHITEROCK 1994
• RED CROSS ANNUAL ART SHOW (VICTORIA) JUNE 1994
• “LOOK 94” CAPITAL ISLANDS REGIONAL JURIED ART SHOW 1994
• “SPRING EQUINOX” QUIN GALLERY (VICTORIA)(JURIED)MAR.94
• “ART WALK” HARRISON HOT SPRINGS AUGUST 1993
• SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1993 (JURIED ENTRY)
• “VISION 20/21” AULD KIRK GALLERY (SHAWNIGAN LK.) SEPT.92
• “INSCAPES & IMAGES” (JURIED ENTRY) SPONSORED BY THE
• WESTERN COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL AWARD:1ST PRIZE IN ACRYLIS
• SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1992 (JURIED ENTRY)
• MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1992-BY INVITATION
• ROUGE GALLERY “LOOK AGAIN” (VICTORIA) JUNE 92 GROUP SHOW
FEATURING AWARDED WORK FROM PROV. REGIONAL COMPETION
• “LOOK 92” (JURIED ENTRY) GROUP SHOW FEATURING ARTISTS FROM THE CAPITAL REGION (VICTORIA) MAR.02-ONE PIECE SELECTED TO GO TO
PROVINCIAL
“IMAGES AND OBJECTS” (B.C. FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS)(VERNON)
JURIED SHOW FEATURING AWARDED WORK FROM REGIONAL COMPETITIONS