Simon Ledson

Above and Below - contemporary semi-abstract mixed media painting

2023

Born in England, Simon Ledson spent much of his childhood living throughout Africa before returning to the UK to study fine art, design and Illustration. Since 1985 he has worked as a full-time artist, curator and as both an interior and graphic designer.

As a keen surfer, Ledson considers his work to serve as an investigation into the ways in which the rhythm of the ocean physically connects with his body — it deals with ideas such as the distortion of vision and changing perspectives with regard to his movement through both the water and the changing light of day.

Ledson's paintings emphasize the simplicity of form and the interaction between light, tone, texture and emotion. As a collection of Somerset landscapes, these paintings are a study of low light observation capturing the atmospheric mood and still moments of the early morning, with just enough sunlight to show a trace of the landscape. The works document a personal journey as well as an ongoing search affected by sleep deprivation which further distorts the interplay of night and day. These landscape paintings are an ongoing enquiry into what Ledson sees as a mere reflection of light on a surface; the reality of reflection. The initial stage of each landscape is sketched straight onto primed canvases on location, either in oil or charcoal, before being finished in the studio.

Since 2008 Ledson has exhibited continuously throughout England as well in Thailand. The artist has enjoyed multiple residences in England and Spain, has won multiple awards including the Quartz Art Festival's "Public Choice" award in 2010, and undertook a series of international commissions between 2006 and 2018.

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