Simon Kenevan Originals

After his birth in London in 1963, Simon Kenevan was still a child when his family moved to the south coast of England. Simon has fond memories of these picturesque early days, describing himself as a free-spirit, reveling barefoot in the sand and climbing trees. At a young age when his family separated, Simon Kenevan learnt to be competent and sovereign. This independence has remained with Simon ever since, and has been in part responsible for the passionate and reflective qualities in his paintings.

Simon Kenevan at Vinings Gallery

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After leaving school in 1982 Simon joined the crew of a fishing boat, reaffirming his lifelong relationship with the sea. And when he had managed to save enough money he bought a 14’ rowing boat, fulfilling his ambition to work alone and become one with the natural environment. From that point, Kenevan began his true love affair with the elements. He became aware of the inspiring majesty of the sea and sky, and the sheer power of the wind. Although both Simon's parents were artists, art did not feature as a tangible part of his life, yet the solitude brought about by his work gave rise to much thought and observation, and sowed the seed for his future career.

As time passed Simon Kenevan began to translate some of this experience into artistic compositions, and discovered an amazingly rich talent. In 2003 Simon settled in the USA and a whole new world opened up for him. Here Simon encountered a school of painters, the "Sublime movement”, that was to have an immense influence on his artistic path. These pioneering 19th century artists were attracted by the scenic breadth of the diverse continent of North America. As Simon says, "I know that I experience the landscape with the same spiritual intensity as these artists did, and like them, I aim to inject that divine inspiration into every piece of work I produce."