There is a rare opportunity to view the work of Simeon Stafford in Ottery St Mary.

Sidmouth Herald: Broad Street, Ottery St Mary, by Simeon Stafford.Broad Street, Ottery St Mary, by Simeon Stafford. (Image: Archant)

Simeon Stafford, one of today’s leading naive artists visited East Devon recently and was captivated by the charms of Colyton, Ottery St Mary, and the coastal towns of Sidmouth and Budleigh.

Indeed so taken was he with the red cliffs, attractive historic buildings and landscape he began immediately planning his next body of work.

Readers may already be familiar with Simeon’s paintings, so widely collected is his work but this new ‘just off the easel’ collection are the first ever paintings of Devon and the Georgian House Framing Gallery, in Ottery St Mary, is offering a rare opportunity to see them.

Raised in Manchester, Simeon won his first art award aged 14 and was soon exhibiting his paintings in art galleries and by 1974 was exhibiting widely throughout the North of England and London including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Moving to Cornwall in the early ’90s Simeon’s paintings have become yet more sought after - they are almost always cheerful, vibrant and imbued with happy, childhood memories.

For more information on Simeon’s paintings please visit Georgian House Framing and Gallery or contact Alison summerfield at alisonsummerfield@outlook.com or ring: 07770 941062