Description

‘My name is Simon Bailey a landscape painter based in South London. I work with oil paints, using vibrant colours mainly to depict clouds and trees as my preferred subject matter. My love for colour began when I was studying A Level art and was inspired by Henri Matisse’s work. The first piece that made me think “wow” was ‘The Snail’. I admired the large, bold blocks of colour that he used and was fascinated by the little snail that he had hidden away. I grew up with dyslexia which was challenging for me at school but I now see this as my super power because it enables me to pick up patterns and see things in a different ways with unusual combinations and associations, helping me with my creativity. After college, I spent some of the best years of my life playing as a bass player in bands. We had our own music studio in the arches at Clapham Junction and performed around London and the UK for many years. I remember during one band rehearsal session trying to explain to my band mates how I can actually hear songs in colour, they enjoyed the banter but clearly had no clue what I meant! Music has become an important role in my painting process, enabling my creativity to flow.

Listening to music helps me relax, creating a calm environment that allows my mind to wander freely. This state of relaxation is essential for tapping into my creativity, as it reduces distractions and allows a deeper connection to my artistic vision.  Different melodies and rhythms evoke specific colours and shapes in my mind, guiding my brushstrokes and palette choices. This synthetic experience enriches my paintings, infusing them with a dynamic interplay of tones that transform sound into colour. Each genre and song brings its own mood, which I translate onto the canvas. Whether it’s the upbeat tempo of a lively track or the soothing melodies of a ballad, the music I choose influences the emotions conveyed in my work. This connection allows me to express a wide range of feelings, from joy and tranquillity to introspection and nostalgia. So music is not just a background element in my painting process, it is an integral part of how I create, helping me to relax, visualise, and express the a whole range of different moods that my landscapes embody.’

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