About the Artist

Born in England in 1957, Simon started painting at the age of 7 with oil.  He has spent his time around horses and animals his whole life. After the death of his favorite horse, he decided to go to Chantilly to see how race horses were trained.  While in France, at a very young age, he started to paint horses and received numerous commissions from both trainers and owners.  After a near fatal accident while riding, he returned to England to recuperate and concentrate fully on painting.  He received an increasing number of sporting commissions which included horses and dogs.

He progressed into portraiture having completed numerous studies of Lester Piggott. Having exhibited these portraits, he received many commissions, including the Duke of Rutland, Sir Charles Rowley and many others. 

Having traveled extensively within the United States, there was an increasing interest in his work, followed with commissions and a sold out exhibition at the Riverside Studios.

Currently Simon is reemerging as a solo exhibitor where he feels free to experiment outside the constrictions of commissioned work.  This has allowed him to expand his exploration of color and paint technique.  His love and flare for color shows in the dramatic subjects he now chooses to paint and is known for.

His work is in many private collections, both here and in Europe.  Simon has also completed large mural projects in private homes and completed number of sculptures in Bronze. He works primarily in oil and sometimes acrylic.

Hopkins presently lives and works in Manhattan.