Lorraine Simonds

My art seeks to halt the hurried pace, compelling viewers to pause, reflect, and unearth the profound questions that lie within. As a watercolour artist, each painting for me is a journey to transcend aesthetics, and delve into the depths of human emotions and narratives through my own experience and wrestlings. I paint to captivate and evoke introspection, moving beyond mere semblance to craft evocative portraits that stir souls. Each stroke, a dance between vibrant hues and poignant contrasts, embodying a fusion of East-West aesthetics and the emotive essence of storytelling.

In the collaborative creation of portraits, I invite patrons on an interactive journey with me to unite creative thoughts and vision. Embracing spontaneity and intimacy, I aim to weave personal narratives into each piece, fostering connections that resonate far beyond the painted surface.

Driven by a vision to infuse the visual landscape with work compelled by emotional depth and vibrant storytelling, I aspire to infuse every artwork with life, energy, and enigmatic charm. Evolving over time, my brushwork navigates the complexities of life, faith, and human struggles, imprinting each portrait with profound insights and contemplative aesthetics.

My thought...

Much of Lorraine’s current work is accomplished purely in watercolour and without any preliminary sketches or underdrawing. The Vancouver - Squamish - Whistler corridor has been her home since 2009, of which she produces the majority of her work from her home studio in Squamish.

Born in Plymouth, England, visual arts has woven itself into Lorraine’s lifetime through various means. In early childhood she would read books on drawing and her father would take her out to the English Moorlands where she would sit for hours outside and capture the landscape. In her adolescent years, she began specializing in portraiture in the acrylic and oil medium. Later, at Plymouth College of Art & Design, in the darkrooms, she inadvertently formalized ideas into functional theory of things like contrast, focus and composition with her studies in Film Photography. 
Lorraine shifted away from the more formal arts at the University of Leeds while pursuing her BA in Fine Art. During this time while she built a foundation of History of Art and Philosophy and shifted towards Micro Sculptures, Photography, Animation and Performance art. 

Post graduation, she has spent a short time in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Squamish, Canada in 2009. Visual art...