Mister

A 30-year career as an art teacher provided London-based mixed-media artist Simon Philpott not only with the tools to create eye-catching pieces, it also gave him his name: Mister.

In 2018, he decided to leave teaching and pursue a career as an artist, winning the Royal Arts prize in 2020 after having been nominated by the public and a panel of judges. Mister secured a solo show at London’s Pall Mall Gallery the following year.

Mister exhibited at the 2019 Miami Biennale in 2019, and has shown in Los Angeles, Madrid, Lisbon and London, among other locations.

Recurring themes

Mister has focused heavily on developing his own art style and practice, taking inspiration for his works from several sources, including art history and strong female characters.

 He chooses to explore some themes over and over, such as renewal and guardianship, adding: “I am interested in themes of diversity and inclusion, and in creating a culture of harmony reflecting London as a modern Babylon”.

Digital seeds and large-scale details

Many of Mister’s artworks start out on his sketchbook or laptop, as he works through ideas, adding digital layers to refine a piece or even form new works. 

 He then adds paint and line elements, giving each work contrasting textures to draw in the viewer. When Mister feels each print is finished and each of the elements he has woven together work, he creates a giclée print on German etching paper.

From that foundation comes a limited edition of 10 unique prints, which are hand finished with acrylic paint, gold leaf and diamond dust, and produced exclusively at the printspace in Shoreditch.

Alongside these prints, Mister also creates large-scale drawings using graphite pencil and gold dust. This parallel art form enables him to dive into and develop the detail, des and large-scale detailspth and scale of his ideas, as well as showcasing the technical skill and discipline that drawing demands.

Make  it happen

Although it has been some time since he last taught, a desire to pass on information and lift up others, has never left him.

“I am testimony to my belief in lifelong learning, and in continuing to develop and thrive in this ever-changing world,” he said.

“Ever-present is my extensive experience as a teacher of art, as well as my pastoral role for the welfare of others.”

He encourages up-and-coming artists not to wait until they feel their works are “perfect”, but to showcase it in competitions to get feedback and make connections. “Make it happen”, he said. 

Buy your Mister print online

You can check out work by Mister here, and also browse our other wide range of other artists.

Contact us

If you have any questions about Mister’s art, would like a personal consultation or click & collect an order, email us at info@turnerartperspective.com.

To find out more about our framing service, click here.