Time which is captured in the form of the arts is never truly lost.

A life-long lover of the outdoors, Simon's an avid hiker / photographer, whose passion began with an interest in studying the Old Masters, the Romantic Artists of the 19th century & the Impressionist Painters going on to produce his own work, dotting thousands of impressions in his work, which his has termed, “micro impressionism.”  This technique is distinctive to Simon’s work and gives the high details that so captivate his audience.

Simon's oil paintings are inspired by the wilderness and elemental, primordial intensity of the wild spaces which lie above the peaceful Lakeland valleys.  Rock, snow, and ice are some of his favourite motifs, with many of his winter scenes being treasured by both locals and tourists alike.  His highly detailed work is often admired by many outdoor enthusiasts, a myriad of which have hiked the very fells he has painted.  

“What moves me is the solitude, an intense primordial quiet broken only by the iron clank of scree and boulder, skylarks wheeling and the hard metallic croak of ravens.  Exciting light effects the rock which is the foundation of my paintings and the Lakeland itself.” - Simon Whitfield

“This is what first made me a painter of mountains - the skeletal aspects of them, such as Swirral and Striding Edge with their coiled energy, jabbed vertebrae of rock… They underpin and inspire. It is their spareness, immovability, and the uncompromising honesty which makes them heroic and sublime.” - Simon Whitfield

Paintings Exhibited