About
"My enjoyment of painting is the process as much as the end result. It is about finding the subject and letting it emerge. I enjoy the surface created, the brushwork and the differences between lean and fat paint. I want the painting to read from a distance as reality, but close up to be a series of painterly marks. I like to work with a limited palette, adding a few bright lights for emphasis"
Simon Zekaria is a British painter based in Hampstead, London, working both 'en plein air' and from a studio to produce original fine art in oil.
Simon is drawn to the school of impressionism in his artwork; using broken colour and painterly, textured brushstrokes to capture light and shadow. His aim is to spontaneously render the feel and atmosphere of a place or subject, at a certain moment of time, through impressionist art.
In terms of his art education and learning, Simon studied life drawing and landscape painting at art institutions and academies in London, including Camden Art Centre in Hampstead and Hampstead School of Art, in addition to his self-taught studies.
In 2022, he studied plein air street and landscape painting on location in Montelparo, Italy under the tutorship of award-winning British artist Jennifer Aitken, Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists.
In 2022, Simon received a Commendation for his artwork from judges of The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) at the ROI Paint Live plein air competition.
In 2023, Simon won the Principal’s Art Prize awarded by the Hampstead School of Art at the Hampstead Summer Festival.
In 2023, Simon studied plein air landscape painting in Scotland under the tutorship of Susanna MacInnes, winner of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2023, Heat 2.
In 2024, Simon was awarded 'Honorable Mention' by the PleinAir Salon of PleinAir Magazine.
In 2024, Simon studied portraiture in oil at Dulwich Art School under the tutorship of Alex Tzavaras.
He was also given an award for his painting by the Hampstead School of Art at the Hampstead Summer Festival.
Simon is a member of the London Plein Air Group of artists and Highgate Contemporary Art, as well as a friend of the Royal Academy of Arts.
As well as selling his paintings directly, Simon’s artwork is currently exhibited at The Mill House Cafe and Highgate Contemporary Art.
For the latest news, please follow Simon on Instagram @simonzekariaart.
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Awards
Painting prize awarded by the Hampstead School of Art (HSOA) 2024
Awarded 'Honorable Mention' by PleinAir Salon of PleinAir Magazine 2024
Winner of the Principal’s Art Prize, awarded by the Hampstead School of Art (HSOA) 2023
Commendation awarded by the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Paint Live Plein Air Competition 2022
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Entrances/ Exhibitions
2024
Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Gallery at Green & Stone Summer Exhibition - Exhibitor
Chelsea Art Society Annual Summer Exhibition - Exhibitor
Hampstead Art Society Annual Exhibition - Entrant
New English Art Club Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, December - Award Winner
2023
The Mill House Cafe - Exhibitor
Highgate Contemporary Art Winter Exhibition - Exhibitor
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, November - Entrant
Gallery at Green & Stone Works on Paper - Entrant
Highgate Contemporary Art Postcard Art Exhibition - Exhibitor
Thou Art Framing - Exhibitor
Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Kinloss Art Fair - Exhibitor
Hampstead School of Art at the Hampstead Summer Festival, London - Exhibitor
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, March - Entrant
Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, January - Entrant
2022
Thou Art Framing - Exhibitor
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, December - Entrant
Plein Air Salon Art Competition, November - Entrant
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Paint Live plein air competition