Simon Burton's work could be seen as a contemplation of the delicate interplay between the seen and the unseen, between what is expressed in the visible world and what lies beneath the surface of perception. His pieces seem to suggest that art is not merely a representation, but rather an exploration of the hidden layers of existence. The rawness and emotion that surface in his work invite a deeper understanding of not just the physical world, but of inner states—those often unspoken or fleeting moments we carry within us.

Burton’s paintings suggest a kind topographical consciousness, there is a recognition of faint remnants of the layers of painterly decisions, much like the realisation of an ancient landscape beneath the modern one. The sensuous surfaces that he creates are also sometimes adorned with fragile constructions, these seem to simultaneously allude to personal and historical memory. It is through this intimate coalition of abstract and representational language that the complexity of human experience emerges. His use of colour and form transcends the idea of aesthetics, becoming instead a language through which he seeks and sometimes allows inner visions to erupt. His layering of material, whether through the rhythmic repetition of shapes, the juxtaposition of muted tones with flashes of vibrant colour, or the meticulous attention to texture (like the wastes of time), pulls the viewer into a dialogue with their own perceptions and emotional responses.

Simon Burton (b. 1973, Doncaster, UK) lives and works in London. He attained a BA at the University of Brighton (1992 – 1995) and an MA at the Royal College of Art (1995 – 1997). Burton has exhibited internationally including in Bulgaria, China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Romania, S. Korea, USA and the UK. Burton’s paintings are held in many public and private collections in China, Europe, USA and the UK.

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