| Simon was born in Tanzania, East Africa, where
he spent his early childhood living on the slopes of the world’s highest
free-standing volcano, Mt Kilimanjaro. At 19,340 feet it is also Africa’s
highest mountain. At the age of seven, his family moved to Arusha, Tanzania’s
then new administrative capital and centre of tourism. Here he was to have access
to some of Africa’s finest game reserves. Now 25 years on, his images adorn
the walls of the lodges in those same reserves.
For those who have been fortunate to visit this Eden of Africa, the experience
enters deep into their soul and remains in their heart forever. Simon was educated
in Kenya and then England where he was to eventually settle in 1979. In 2000 he
moved to the county of Staffordshire, where he began to rekindle his deep rooted
memories of Africa by painting these beautiful images in this extraordinary medium.
By using Tea and dry Ochre, Simon has managed to capture the colour, mood and
shimmering beauty associated with this ancient but delicate land. It would appear
that his beloved Africa has firmly etched itself into his soul.
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Simon photographing elephants in Botswana
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