About
"I am an artist fundamentally drawn to the movement of Impressionism in creating original fine art oil paintings.
Rooted also in the observational art tradition, my aim is to spontaneously capture in paint a person, object or place at a certain moment in time. With an unrelenting fascination for light and shadow and their effects, be they dramatic or subtle, I like to work quickly and instinctively with a limited palette.
My enjoyment of painting is the process as much as the end result. It is about finding the subject and letting the essence of a scene's mood or feeling emerge. My intention is to say just enough. I enjoy the surface created, broken colour, textured 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"
Simon Zekaria is an award-winning British painter based in Hampstead, London, working both on location from life - or 'en plein air' - and from a studio to produce original fine art in oil.
Simon is drawn to the movement of Impressionism in his artwork; using broken colour and painterly, textured brushstrokes to capture subtle interactions between light, shadow, tone and colour through fresh, instinctive mark-making. 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, Hampstead School of Art and Dulwich Art Group, in addition to his self-taught studies.
He has also studied and worked in the UK and other countries under the tutorship of a roster of artists.
Artistic influences include Monet, Manet, Renoir, Sargent, Sorolla and Schmid.
Simon has earned several awards throughout his career and has exhibited in numerous group shows, including with Chelsea Art Society and the Gallery at Green & Stone in London.
He has undertaken private commissions and his work is held by private collectors in the UK and internationally.
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In 2022, Simon 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.
He also studied life drawing at the Hampstead School of Art under the tutorship of Francesco Poiana.
In 2024, Simon was awarded 'Honorable Mention' by the PleinAir Salon of PleinAir Magazine.
In 2024, Simon studied portraiture in oil at Dulwich Art Group under the tutorship of Alex Tzavaras.
In 2024, Simon studied oil painting in the form of the work of Joaquín Sorolla under the tutorship of Peter Keegan.
He was also given an award for his painting by the Hampstead School of Art at the Hampstead Summer Festival.
In 2025, Simon won the Ottolenghi Art Prize at the Hampstead Summer Festival.
In 2025, Simon studied fine art framing at Dulwich Art Group under the tutorship of David Sawyer.
In 2025, Simon studied portrait painting under the tutorship of Rosso Emerald Crimson.
In 2026, Simon was selected for the New Platform Art annual cohort.
Simon is a member of the London Plein Air Group of artists and Highgate Contemporary Art, as well as a friend of Chelsea Art Society and 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.
Awards
Shortlisted painting in a category award at the Friends of Holland Park, Art Exhibition 2026
Jackson’s Art Prize, Longlist 2026
Jackson’s Art Prize, Extended Longlist (I) 2026
Jackson’s Art Prize, Extended Longlist (II) 2026
Winner of the Ottolenghi Art Prize 2025
New English Art Club, Annual Exhibition - Pre-selected 2025
Individual painting prize awarded by the Hampstead School of Art 2024
Awarded 'Honorable Mention' by PleinAir Salon of US PleinAir Magazine 2024
Winner of the Principal’s Art Prize, awarded by the Hampstead School of Art 2023
Commendation awarded by the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Paint Live Plein Air Competition 2022
Exhibitions & Entrances
2026
Dulwich Art Group, Artists' Open House, Dulwich Festival - Exhibitor
International Art Prize, Winsor & Newton and Paul Smith’s Foundation - Entrant
Group show, Holt Gallery - Entrant
New Platform Art, Annual Exhibition - Exhibitor
Friends of Holland Park, Art Exhibition - Exhibitor
New English Art Club, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Society of British Artists, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Jackson’s Art Prize, Longlist - Exhibitor
Jackson’s Art Prize, Extended Longlist (I) - Exhibitor
Jackson’s Art Prize, Extended Longlist (II) - Exhibitor
2025
Highgate Contemporary Art, Winter Show - Exhibitor
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Paint Live plein air competition - Participant
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, portrait painting competition - Participant
Highgate Contemporary Art, Little Picture Show - Exhibitor
The Point Contemporary, A Small Winter Exhibition -Entrant
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Annual Exhibition -Entrant
Soho Open - Entrant
ING Discerning Eye, Annual Exhibition -Entrant
Royal Society of Marine Artists, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Hampstead Summer Festival, Hampstead School of Art Exhibition - Exhibitor
Chelsea Art Society, Summer Exhibition -Exhibitor
Hampstead Art Society, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
New English Art Club, Annual Exhibition - Pre-selected
54 The Gallery, 'Spring Eclectic' Group Show - Exhibitor
Highgate Contemporary Art, Little Picture Show - Exhibitor
Jackson's Art Prize -Entrant
Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Society of British Artists, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition - Entrant
Gallery at Green & Stone, Works on Paper Exhibition - Exhibitor
2024
Hampstead Art Society, Works on Paper Exhibition - Entrant
Highgate Contemporary Art, Winter Exhibition - Exhibitor
Dionysus Wines - Exhibitor
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Highgate Contemporary Art, Little Picture Show - Exhibitor
Royal Society of Marine Artists, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
Gallery at Green & Stone, Summer Exhibition - Exhibitor
Chelsea Art Society, Summer Exhibition - Exhibitor
Hampstead Summer Festival, Hampstead School of Art Exhibition - Exhibitor
Hampstead Art Society, Annual Exhibition - Entrant
New English Art Club, Annual Exhibition -Entrant
2023
Chelsea Art Society, Summer Exhibition - Exhibitor
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 Summer Festival, Hampstead School of Art Exhibition - 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
"Exhibiting oil paintings has provided fantastic opportunities to share my artistic vision with a wider audience. The process of showcasing my work has allowed me to connect with fellow artists, art enthusiasts, and collectors, fostering valuable relationships within the art community. Through these exhibitions, I’ve gained recognition and feedback that has helped me grow and evolve as an artist"
