Simon N. Bradley

– The Life of an Artist –

Beginnings

Simon was born in Wednesbury, a market town in England's Black Country, Staffordshire. As a teenager, he was apprenticed to G.K.N, Darlaston, and in the evenings he studied at Walsall College.

At the age of 20 – qualified with certifications in Mechanical Engineering, and employed full-time as a technical representative – Simon decided during an enlightened moment that was driven by passion to abandon engineering and begin studies in Art.

He began Foundation Studies, a diagnostic year, at Walsall College of Art. (1973/4). He then began his Bachelor’s degree, in the Sculpture Department, at Birmingham City University School of Art. (1976/9).

Simon continued his studies by enrolling on a Master’s degree at The Royal College of Art London. (1981/83).

Between his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, Simon worked as a Studio Assistant for his tutor, Sculptor Stephen Cox RA, at Stephen's London studio.

During a career spanning over 45 years, Simon N. Bradley has created a diverse body of work in the field of sculpture, supplying to an extensive range of businesses located in the UK.

These have been predominantly film, television, exhibitions, displays, and event companies.

Simon Bradley Archaeology Hwt Aten Project Simon created full-size replica Papyrus Columns, working firstly in the UK, then Egypt at the Small Aten Temple at Tell el-Amarna, Minya province from 1991 to 1994.

Ripley, Burke, Gormley & Hicks return to terraforming colony on Exomoon LV-426.

A Life in Film

Subsequently, Simon found work as Film Sculptor, working on set for the fantasy film Dragonslayer (Paramount Pictures), in production at the time on the Bond Stage, Pinewood Studios, London.

The lucrative earnings from film work enabled Simon to enrol on a course in Computer Graphics at Middlesex Polytechnic, London (1978/79).

The portfolio of work Simon created while on this course led to his acceptance at the Royal College of Art.

While studying at the RCA, Simon gained invaluable computer programming experience.

Due to the RCA's limited computer resources he worked at Imperial College nearby, where remote access to draughting facilities, located at other London campuses, was possible, and pivotal to Simon's MA project's needs.

Whilst studying at the RCA, having specialised in Computing, Simon was hired by Professor Roy Ascott to teach computing, part-time, in the Fine Art Department at Newport College, Wales.

While studying for his MA in London and teaching part-time in Wales, during a summer vacation, Simon was hired as a Sculptor on the film Dark Crystal, directed by Jim Henson, in production at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood London.

Thanks to his evident abilities and enthusiasm, Simon received further offers of film work. These opportunities in the film industry were compelling but pressed too heavily on his time. Something would have to give!

Simon resolved to abort his MA studies in London, resign his teaching position in Wales, and to focus all his energies on a career at London's Film Studios, where American filmmakers George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, and Jim Henson were bringing their film productions.

Notable films that Simon N. Bradley worked on as Sculptor during the 1980s include the following, ordered by release date:

Dragonslayer (Released UK: June 26th, 1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Released UK: July 30th, 1981)
The Dark Crystal (Released UK: February 17th, 1983)
Never Say Never Again (Released UK: December 15th, 1983)
White Nights (Released UK: November 22nd, 1985)
Aliens (Released UK: July 18th, 1986)
Labyrinth (Released UK: December 22nd, 1986)

New Directions

After a very demanding schedule on the film Labyrinth, Simon was advised to take a break.

During a furlough of eighteen months, he travelled South-East Asia, crossing the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius and Reunion Island, via the Cocos Keeling Islands, as crew member on the yacht 'Selamat Tinggal'.

During the ocean passage, Simon was considering what to do next once back in the UK.

He decided to establish a limited company and studio in London. The business would provide sculpture and design services and broaden his client base beyond the London-based film industry.

Near Tower Bridge, Bermondsey, Simon rented a unit at Jacob Street Studios, a 3.25-acre riverside site. These studios were accommodating film, television, and 'Pop-Promo' productions.

Almost immediately, via contacts Simon had established in the film industry, an invitation to tender for a series of commissions came from Imagination Ltd, an event company, in London's Soho district. Imagination were designing a multimedia exhibition entitled Royal Britain, for Unicorn Heritage plc, with the Earl of Bradford as Chairman and Gyles Brandreth as Managing Director. The exhibition was to be located at the Barbican Centre, London. Simon's bids were successful, resulting in a series of commissioned works, galvanising his new studio’s reputation.

Simon's business continued to expand until 1991, when the economic decline forced the closure of Jacob Street Studios and the dissolution of his company.

However, as Alexander Graham Bell said, “when one door closes another opens...". Indeed, Simon N. Bradley was subsequently invited to work with architect Michael Mallinson and Professor Barry Kemp CBE on the Amarna Project. Simon created full-size replica Papyrus Columns, working firstly in the UK, then Egypt at the Small Aten Temple at Tell el-Amarna, Minya province from 1991 to 1994.

Thanks to his interest in computing, thirst for knowledge, and proactive nature, Simon also studied part-time to qualify as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, MCSE (1998/99).

Simon Bradley Corporate Art Sculpture. Goldcrest Films. Materials: Stone & Bronze.

Simon N. Bradley Chair, (Limited edition). Material: Mild Steel.

Hard Times, New Beginnings

Calamity struck the following year, when Simon was involved in two near-fatal accidents, the first a traumatic brain injury in 2000 and then a road traffic accident in 2002.

The resulting injuries completely halted all types of practical work for several years.

Recovering slowly from this hiatus, which had left him with a stroke and disabled with left side hemiplegia, Simon relocated to Bath to convalesce in 2003.

As part of his rehabilitation, Simon studied at Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) in Surrey (2006/07) and qualified with certifications in Computer Aided Design (CAD).

With the offer of funding, and continuing his rehabilitation, Simon N. Bradley requalified with his second Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art, returning this time as a student to Newport School of Art & Design, Wales (2009/10), where his interests moved from three- to two- dimensional work, to meet both his newly evolving interest in colour and the limitations resulting from his injuries.

Simon has now established his studio in the Artisan Quarter of Walcot, Bath, where he continues to develop and exercise his passion for creativity.

S N. B

Simon N. Bradley

– The Life of an Artist –

Beginnings

A Life in Film

Dragonslayer (Released UK: June 26th, 1981)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Released UK: July 30th, 1981)

The Dark Crystal (Released UK: February 17th, 1983)

Never Say Never Again (Released UK: December 15th, 1983)

White Nights (Released UK: November 22nd, 1985)

Aliens (Released UK: July 18th, 1986)

Labyrinth (Released UK: December 22nd, 1986)

New Directions

Hard Times, New Beginnings

Simon N. Bradley

01225 469619

07837 334291

[email protected]

No.11 Roman House, Walcot Gate, Bath BA1 5UE