Simon Hodges PS | The Pastel Society

Avon Gorge, Bristol

Pastel
Skateboarding, Bristol

Charcoal
The Grand Union Canal, London

Pastel
The Kennet and Avon, Bath

Pastel
The White Entrance, Bath

Charcoal
The Paragon, Bath

Charcoal

About Simon Hodges PS

Artist details wrap

Biography

Artist's Statement

My primary inspiration comes from the landscape but with an architectural background, buildings and townscapes feature strongly in my work. I am self taught as an artist referring back to greats such as Turner, Seago and Melville to inspire a constant rethinking although in essence my approach to painting is no more complicated than working hard to capture a sense of place and time, quality of light, variations in weather, changes of season and to portray this in two dimensions considering composition, drawing, narrative, tone and colour.

Method of Working

Whilst my work always begins in front of the subject by sketching in a variety of mediums, most of my finished work is done in my studio, often using compositional drawings or paintings before commencing the finished piece. Besides pastel, I work in charcoal, watercolour, acrylic and oil; at times I use a combination of these mediums.

Biographical Details

I was born in 1958 in Surrey; I am married and have lived in Larkhall in Bath since 1985. Whilst I have painted since I was a child, I was encouraged to go to university and so studied architecture.

1977-81 Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff
B.Sc Architectural Science 1st Class Honours
B.Arch (Wales) Distinction
1992-1993 West of England University, Bristol
M.Sc Construction Management
1979-80 Architectural Practice in Wimbledon.
1981-82 Architectural Practice in Victoria, London. Work on hotels and private houses
1984 Membership of Architects Registration Council of The United Kingdom
1985 Membership of The Royal Institute of British Architects
1983-1991 Bath & Frome Architectural Practice (Associate & Partner) Clients included Marlborough College and University of Bath.
1993-1996 Yeovil, Oxford & London Architectural Practice (Associate)
1996-1999 Private Architectural Practice (Bath)
2000 onwards- Invited artist at Le Corre Gallery, Bradford on Avon
2010 Invited artist at Bath Gallery, Bath
2010/11 Invited artist at LeFort Gallery, Bath
2011-2016 Overall coordinator of Larkhall Open Studio Art Trail
2014 onwards- Invited artist at Castle Fine Art, Bath
2015 onwards- Invited artist at Widbrookgrange Hotel, Bradford on Avon
2017 Membership of The Pastel Society

Society Memberships

The Pastel Society

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

1978 Winner of Welsh Measured Drawing Competition

1996 Winner of Open Design Competition for New Glastonbury Library

2009/10 Highly Commended in Bath Art Prize Competition, The Octagon, Bath

2010 SAA Artist of The Year winner in The Building & Industrial Category

2014 Winner of Escoda Barcelona Award for an outstanding landscape at Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, The Mall Galleries, London.

Exhibitions

The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2018

The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2017

New English Art Club Annual Open Exhibition 2016

NOW @ The Pastel Society

Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition 2015

Look Again @ The Pastel Society

Other exhibitions

1969 National Childrens' Drawing Competition (London)
1979 Represented Welsh School of Architecture in National Drawing Competition
1990/91 RWA Bristol Annual Open Exhibition (Architecture)
1999 First solo painting exhibition (Bradford on Avon)
2000 The Bath Society Annual Open Exhibition
2001 Sadler Gallery Open Exhibition, Wells
2001-05 The Theatre Royal Open Exhibition
2002/03 The Royal Crescent Club Exhibition
2003 No. 1 The Royal Crescent Shop Exhibition
2011-2016 The Bath Society Annual Open Exhibition
2004 to 2008 Solo exhibitions at West Barn, Bradford on Avon
2005 "Drawing on Bath" solo exhibition (The Theatre Royal, Bath)
2008 "St. Michael's & The City" solo exhibition (St. Michael's Church, Bath)
2009 "A Bath for All Seasons" solo exhibition (The Theatre Royal, Bath)
2010 onwards- Open Studio Exhibition at Hillview Studio, Larkhall
2011/12 RWA Bristol Annual Open Exhibition (Art)
2011 The Grant Bradley Gallery Open Exhibition (Bristol)
2013 "Britain" solo mixed exhibition (LeCorre Gallery)
2013 "Larkhall at night" solo exhibition (Oriel Hall, Larkhall)
2011-2016 Overall coordinator of Larkhall Open Studio Trail
2014 – 17 The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition
2014 & 2017 Royal Institute Painters in Water Colours Annual Exhibition
2015 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition
2016 New English Art Annual Open Exhibition

Publications

Various local newspaper articles. Limited edition prints and cards for No.1, The Royal Crescent, The Theatre Royal, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Rode Manor House and various private commissions.