Simon Burdge Artwork and Prints

Sunflowers on a Blue Background The most iconic images of the twentieth century have left a lasting impact on the world of art and culture. One such masterpiece, which captures the imagination of many, is housed at the National Gallery in London.  They purchased version number 5 of 11 in 1961, a testament to its popularity and significance. I have often seen this renowned painting when I visit London, and it never fails to inspire me. 

Abstract Fun Fair at Night – Capturing the Chaos in Colour Abstract Fun Fair There's nothing quite like a summer fun fair. The lights, the music, the endless chatter of voices, and the thrill of the rides all come together in a perfect recipe for sensory overload. This painting, Abstract Fun Fair at Night , was my attempt to bring all that energy onto paper. On warm evenings, I'd visit the fair to watch the scene unfold. The Ferris wheel spun against the dusky sky, its ferocious energy cutting through the night air. Children proudly carried teddy bears nearly as big as themselves — proof of lucky wins or determined persistence at the game stalls. Everywhere you turned, colours competed for attention: neon pinks against electric blues, glowing yellows, and flashing reds. What struck me most wasn't just the visual spectacle but the atmosphere. Music didn't just play — it shouted, demanding that everyone take notice. Machinery whirred, clattered, and hissed, punctuated by ...

    A Quiet Hilltop, A Majestic View  Climbing the hill to St Woolos Cathedral in Newport isn’t for the faint of heart, but once you reach the top, the view, the stillness, and the architectural beauty make it all worth it. This watercolour was painted a couple of years ago, inspired by that very moment. I remember pausing at the top, catching my breath, and quietly admiring how the stone structure stood so assuredly against the soft landscape. It felt timeless. A Little History... St Woolos Cathedral, or Eglwys Gadeiriol Sant Gwynllyw in Welsh, is one of the oldest functioning religious buildings in Wales. The original church is thought to have been founded in the 5th or 6th century by Saint Gwynllyw, a Welsh king who converted to Christianity. Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt, extended, and fortified—especially after attacks during the Norman era. Much of the present structure includes Norman, medieval, and Victorian elements. It was officially designat...

  A friend recommended an exhibition, but I was hesitant due to my preconceived notions about graffiti art. I believed it was mainly a form of vandalism and did not understand its appeal. Nevertheless, I visited the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea to see the exhibition. Surprisingly, the exhibition challenged my preconceptions and introduced me to various graffiti art forms and styles. It started with writing one's name on a wall and progressed to subway trains in New York, where the artists gained more exposure and publicity. Alongside the Art, the exhibition also highlighted the cultural significance of hip-hop and how it influenced the art form . As the decades passed, institutions often dismissed graffiti art as vandalism. However, the fashion industry eventually recognized the value of Art and its uniqueness, leading to its commercialization. Despite losing its edge, graffiti art's image and subject matter persisted due to its long gestation period . After leaving ...

  This collage, crafted meticulously from torn paper sourced from various magazines, stands out as one of my favourite artistic processes. Engaging in college-level art courses has expanded my creative horizons, allowing me to explore multiple new ideas and challenge my existing perspectives. Through this journey, I’ve discovered innovative ways of seeing and interpreting the world around me, which fuels my passion for artistic experimentation.  Working with collage as a dynamic medium provides endless opportunities for expression, offering a playground for my creativity and a canvas for my thoughts. I am genuinely excited about the future of my artistic endeavours, as I dive deeper into the limitless possibilities that collage art offers. You can expect to see more ambitious projects and creative explorations from me as I continue to push boundaries and develop my unique visual language.

The Zebra – Fun Fair Carousel Photography  The Zebra – A Carousel Moment of Joy As an artist, one of the most common questions I’m asked is whether I use photographs as source material for my paintings and drawings. The answer is a definite yes . Sometimes I take pictures while drawing a subject — capturing angles, lighting, and details that I might not have time to record in my sketchbook. Other times, I take photographs purely for their own sake, simply because something catches my eye and sparks my imagination. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to share some of these photographs with you — images that have inspired me in my creative work or made me smile. The first in this series is a photograph I call The Zebra . I spotted this zebra at a fun fair, proudly positioned on a carousel among other colourful creatures. There’s something irresistibly joyful about its expression — the broad grin, the upright ears, the confident tilt of the head. Its bold black-and-white stripes seem ...

 Reimagining an Old Diary The Art of Collage and Pause I've always been fond of collage—its playful, unexpected nature and the quiet "what if" questions it poses. This piece was made on an unused diary page from 2018, A4 in size. Instead of dates and meetings, I filled it with colour and shape: small rust-orange squares cut from painted paper, abstract forms in soft neutrals, sweeping brushstrokes in black ink. The composition feels almost like a necklace strung on a cord—connected, rhythmic, and anchored in movement. Collage is often how I return to my creative self when things feel too planned or rigid. I'll stop what I'm doing and let materials lead the way. These spontaneous hours build into a language of their own.  A visual journaling that bypasses words. There's a sense of calm that comes from assembling pieces that don't belong, and yet suddenly do. This piece is one of many I've made this way—layered with colour, suggestion, and possibility

A Tree by Worthing Station   A Sketch in Transit   Finding Beauty in the space between Trains A Tree by Worthing Station While waiting for a train to Brighton, I found myself outside—or perhaps on the platform—at Worthing Station. In front of me stood a tree. With a few minutes to spare, I reached for a black felt-tip pen and allowed the moment to take over. It wasn't planned, polished, or part of any series—just a quick sketch, done instinctively and without fuss. There may even have been a pint involved, courtesy of a public house across the road. What makes this drawing special to me is its simplicity. It reminds me that drawing isn't always about grand plans or hours of effort. It can be about capturing something swiftly, without judgment. And strangely, those passing sketches often stay with us the longest. This black-ink sketch evokes the tree studies by John Ruskin in the 19th century. Ruskin, too, believed in drawing as a way of seeing. While his work was often more de...

  By Simon Burdge Sketched at the British Museum, this drawing explores the symbolic power of ancient objects and the modern meanings we bring to them. During a recent visit to the British Museum, I was stopped in my tracks by a small carved figure made of amethyst. Its shape felt ambiguous—was it a figure gripping a sword, or simply someone folding their hands in stillness? I was drawn to that uncertainty and began sketching on the spot. Later, while revisiting the sketch, it reminded me of an amulet—an object designed not just to be looked at, but to be held close, trusted, and carried—a kind of spiritual tool. In the drawing, I used layers of blue and black ink, with energetic crosshatch marks and long brushstrokes to evoke a kind of atmosphere—a hard, ancient sky pressing down, or perhaps a protective energy pushing outward. The figure became less about the details and more about presence—a guardian, of sorts. Then and Now: The Amulet's Role In ancient times, amulets were often...

  This abstract piece began as a spontaneous sketch during a visit to the Tate. I can’t quite remember the original artwork it referenced; frankly, this version no longer resembles it much. That’s part of the beauty of working from memory and feeling—letting the sketch evolve freely once back in the studio. What started as a quick observational note became something entirely its own, shaped more by intuition than fidelity. Sometimes, what stays with you isn’t the image, but the impression it left

 This sketch was done quickly from a train window, capturing someone running to catch a train on the opposite platform. It’s stylized, focusing more on the energy and movement than strict detail. I coloured it in later, but it stands out how that fleeting moment of motion is still alive in the piece. Something about the rush of life in transit makes it so compelling . #trainart #quicksketch #motioninart #trainart #sketchbook #quicksketch #motioninart #energeticart

  This drawing was done quickly during a life drawing session, capturing a moment as the model looked over her shoulder. I added the background and flesh tones later, focusing on the figure itself in the moment. I find the note I left on the drawing interesting: "frozen moment of action; the critical moment." This could have been the theme for the session, but even without that context, the drawing feels like it’s suspended in time, emphasising that precise, fleeting moment of movement. #charcoaldrawing #lifedrawing #figurativeart #artiststudy #sketchbookpages #artwork #charcoal

Two Feet in Bed A chalk drawing on paper or possibly even oil pastel in four colours arranged in a row, interrupted perhaps by teeth or feet, subject unknown. This piece was created using either chalk or oil pastel on paper, showcasing four bold colours arranged in a row, interspersed with shapes that might resemble teeth or feet. The subject remains open to interpretation.  #abstractart #oilpastel #chalkdrawing #contemporaryart #artprocess  

The Secret A charcoal sketch featuring two heads—one turning towards the other—and a figure beneath them. This piece was likely drawn during a life drawing class, although the exact date remains unknown. I adore the raw, expressive quality that charcoal brings to these studies.  Please contact Simon Burdge using my email address or the DM in my profile. The shop is also visible on my profile. #charcoaldrawing #lifedrawing #figurativeart #artiststudy #sketchbookpages #artwork #charcoal See more at Simon Burdge Website  

  A gouache painting of a Flower. I use the shape of a flower pretty regularly. I find it a very satisfying shape. On this occasion, I coloured it with a variety of gouache paint. This flower shape is one I return to often in my artwork—there’s something deeply satisfying about its form. For this piece, I used a mix of vibrant gouache paints to bring it to life. Don't hesitate to contact Simon Burdge at my email address or via the direct message in my profile. The shop is also visible on my profile. #flowerart  #gouachepainting  #abstractfloral  #artistprocess  #creativeexpression

 Three Face T-shirt print   The three-faced design is a great option to start your collection of unique artist-designed t-shirts. This design comes from a sketch created in the Louvre, Paris. I didn't note down the artist's name at the time, but any Expressionist artist will work.

Four Crow T-shirt Design Mythology of the Four Crows T-Shirt The four crows on this black t-shirt are inspired by rich and diverse mythological traditions from around the world, each carrying profound symbolism and ancient stories that connect us to the mysteries of the natural world. . The Sentinel of Secrets In many cultures, crows are considered the keepers of secrets and the guardians of ancient wisdom. The first crow on your t-shirt represents the Sentinel of Secrets. Celtic mythology sees crows as messengers between the living and the dead, often associated with the Morrigan, the goddess of war and fate. This crow reminds us of the power of knowledge and the unseen truths that shape our destiny. Four Crow T-shirt The Herald of Change The second crow symbolizes transformation and change. In Native American traditions, crows are often seen as omens of change, both good and bad. They are the precursors of new beginnings, guiding individuals through transitions in life. This crow emb...

 Inspired by an artwork at the Municipal Art Gallery in Brighton, my original drawing is a unique interpretation of William Scott's 'Girl and the Birdcage' from Feb 1948.  It captures the essence of the period with its soft pastel colours and a sense of stillness. I like the drawing I made. I played around with a few versions until I came up with the idea of a digital Lino-cut print.  This print is digitally printed onto Hahnemühle German Etching paper and a limited edition of 25 per size 300mm x 300mm and 500mm x 500mm.

Chapter Mural   I had painted a mural on the back wall of a Chinese church in Canton Cardiff in the early 1980s. Chapter approached me to paint a mural on the wall overlooking the car park. As a young man in my 20s, it sounded like a good idea. I recall there was not much money in it. I began begging and cajoling people and companies to let me have paints or supplies. The local sold me unwanted paint, and I found out who lent me the scaffolding.  I presented my idea of the mural to Chapter. I remember showing them my design and rolling it out on the floor, only to realize I had more drawings than a floor in the small office. They accepted the proposal, and I started a few weeks later. It was only by chance, not design, that I began the project in the summer months. I imagined that the mural would take a couple of weeks to finish. It took ages. I enlisted anybody who would, even the local kids, chip in and give a hand.  A friend at Chapter says he still crosses people who ...