Simon Lewty 1941-2021
A few days after his 80th birthday, Simon Lewty passed away peacefully in October 2021. He dedicated his life to his art, to writing, drawing, reading, and to pursuing the mysteries of dreams and the intangible, poetic passing of time. He leaves a rare legacy and will be sorely missed by friends and fellow artists, for he was much loved and highly respected. Rest in Peace, gentle, brilliant Simon.
Biography
Born, Sutton Coldfield
Studied at Mid-Warwickshire School of Art
Studied at Hornsey College of Art
Lecturer at Mid-Warwickshire College of Further Education
Lived and worked in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and in Swanage, Dorset
Simon Lewty with Ian Hunt during his 2016 exhibition at Art First, Charting a Decade II - Simon Lewty & Will Maclean
Monograph
The Self as a Stranger is a monograph on the art of Simon Lewty, published by Black Dog Publishing Limited, London. It is the first extensive monograph on the life and work of Simon Lewty, produced to coincide with the opening exhibition of Art First’s new gallery in Fitzrovia in 2010. The detailed overview of Lewty’s work is brought together by a distinguished group of writers, including informative contributions from the artist himself: Cathy Courtney, Jessica Dubow, Paul Hills, Ian Hunt, Peter Larkin, Susan Michie, Stuart Morgan. The book was edited and overseen by Clare Cooper, Art First.
Simon Lewty, A Song in Day, 2002, acrylic ink on paper, 191 x 181 cm (detail)
Radio, Television, Film, Sound Recordings
Through the Surface – The Work of Simon Lewty, film directed by Tom Hudson, Art First
Artist's Lives, British Library Sound Archive (interviewed by Cathy Courtney)
Sound recordings of the artist reading texts from his own work, Art First
Third Ear, Interview with Timothy Hyman, BBC Radio 3 (20th March)
Maps for an Inner Landscape – The Work of Simon Lewty, film directed by Terry Bryan, Contrasts , Central Television
Holding Your Ground, Central Television, Birmingham