Steve Simpson (artist)

Stephen Simpson (born 21 September 1965) is an artist and illustrator originally from Northwich, England, based in Dublin. His work combines folklore heritage from different cultures around the world with contemporary reference points. His work aesthetics has its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement, hand-lettered 50s advertising and folk art.
== Early life and education ==
Simpson was born in Chester|Chester, England, growing up in Northwich, Cheshire. A very early inspiration was his cartoonist uncle, John Geering, who landed his first comic strip when Simpson was 6 years old. Simpson would continuously create to impress his uncle who eventually took him on as his assistant during summer school holidays at the age of 14.
== Illustration Career ==
In 1984 Simpson moved to Portsmouth to continue his education at Portsmouth College of Art. However, by the second semester he returned to the North West of England to take a job at Cosgrove Hall Films|Cosgrove Hall Productions in Manchester working on several animation classics such as Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse and later Count Duckula.
Simpson moved to Dublin, Ireland in the winter of 1990 where he continued working in animation, as a storyboard artist on a series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and as art director on Budgie the Little Helicopter. Around 1993, Simpson joined the Cartoon Company of Ireland where he trained as a Disney artist drawing Mickey Mouse and had his initial introduction into the world of digital illustration. 
In 1995, Simpson went freelance as an illustrator, cartoonist and digital artist. He had his own strip in the The Beano where he was the first cartoonist to supply digitally coloured artwork. He continued making art alongside his illustration career, participating in group exhibitions in traditional media across Ireland.
With the advent of digital communication around 2000, his client base became global. Some of his clients included Mini (marque)|MINI , BMW , Jameson Irish Whiskey|Jameson , National Gallery of Ireland , Grupo Modelo|Modelo, Adobe Creative Suite|Adobe , Penguin Books , and Universal Studios Hollywood.
In 2018 he was invited to be artist in residence at the National Gallery of Ireland. He was also multiple awarded from The association of Illustrators UK, The Society of Illustrators NY, Irish Designers in Ireland, ICAD, amongst others.
In 2021 Simpson’s debut in the Non-fungible token|NFT world with the release of a digi-physical limited edition piece 'Chaos' with Useum and Origin Protocol.
== Noted works ==
=== Live-drawing projects ===
* Mini, The Road Trip to IMM 2017 art director Wolf Jasier.
* Stephen James Smith (poet), 2019
* OFFSKETCH 2015-2020.
* #OnTheDraw La Palma, art director Cristina Rebolo, Silver award 2015, ICAD.
=== Packaging design ===
* Mic's Chilli, award winning 2011, 2013 ICAD, Ireland.
* Jameson Bottle, award winning, 2015 , IDI, Ireland.
* Cardenal de Mendoza
=== Toys ===
* Djeco ArtyToys
* Hasbro
* Ravensburger
=== Prints ===
* Literary screenprints
* Ed Sheeran 
* Dublin Capital of Music, award winning, 2015
=== NFT Digital Art===
* Chaos, NFT Debut launch, 2021
=== Other Highlights ===
Simpson has designed over 100 postage stamps for the Irish post office, An Post including the 2020 European Capital of Culture. His artwork has also appeared on a 200 ft screen in Times Square.
== Bibliography ==
* Becoming a Successful Illustrator Derek Brazell, Jo Davies, 2013.
* More than 50 children’s Books including Day of the Dead Karl Jones, 2013.
* Comer Insectos Isaac Petras, 2019.
* Drawn to type Marty Blake, 2021.
== Teaching ==
Simpson has taught illustration workshops internationally in Moscow, Italy, Spain, France, United States, Guatemala and back home in Ireland.
Simpson has run workshops in art schools inc. the National College of Art and Design in Ireland, Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta) and National Gallery of Ireland|National gallery of Ireland. In 2020 he launched his first online course with Domestika.
== Talks and exhibitions ==
* Gallery Nucleus, 2013 'Nautical nonsense: A Tribute to Spongebob Squarepants' - group exhibition
* Gallery Nucleus, 2013 'The physics of friendship: A Tribute to the Big Bang Theory' - group exhibition
* The Copper House Gallery, 2012 'Illustrated, as Advertised' - solo exhibition
* Affinity Designer Project, 2018
* Letters in Design, 2019
* OFFSET, 2015-2020
* Behance Live, 2021
== Personal life ==
Simpson maintains his studio in Dublin City centre in close proximity to the National Gallery of Ireland and other museums which are a constant source of inspiration for his personal work. However, he loves getting back to nature and enjoys gardening, playing guitar and attending music festivals.