Simone Scholes | Drawn to Vulnerability & Strength of Character

Simone Scholes (flowered dress far right) with other artists, as we reveal the giant zucchini prizes.

There’s something quietly disarming about the portraits of Simone Scholes. They don’t just depict a subject, they unravel them. Drawing from a life shaped by textiles, movement, observation and a deep sensitivity to what lies beneath the surface, Scholes creates work that lingers in that space between strength and vulnerability. In this intimate exchange with Juniper Rag, Simone reveals the obsessions, influences, and internal tensions that fuel her practice—offering readers a rare look into the emotional architecture behind her work.

Simone Scholes has become one of the most recognized and consistent voices within Juniper Rag’s ecosystem—both for the strength of her work and her ongoing support of the platform and our artists. Simone’s work stands out among a highly competitive international field.

Beyond Juror’s Choice and Viewer’s Choice awards with Juniper Rag for several shows, Scholes has been a steady and visible presence across multiple Juniper Rag exhibitions over the years. Her work has been featured in many Juniper Rag live and virtual exhibitions, fundraising collaborations as well as several exhibitions where her portraiture consistently wins viewer prizes, draws collector attention and curatorial praise for its emotional depth and material richness.

Within Juniper Rag, Simone is not just an exhibiting artist, but a valuable cornerstone of our mission to elevate important artists. Her work is frequently sought after by collectors across exhibitions and auctions and her engagement with the community reflects a rare combination of artistic excellence and genuine investment in the success of others.

(JR) Please share 5 elements that you continuously obsess about. Things that light your fire, give you goosebumps, distract you and make you think. Identify the gossamer threads that connects you—identify your timbre.

(SS) Fashion - From a child I had a fascination with fashion, I did lots of art as a kid, making shoes and hats out of craft supplies - I had a toy called the fashion wheel where I would spend hours creating different outfits and patterns. I also made my own clothes as a teenager, I'd go round the designer stores for inspiration and did what I could with my limited budget.

Textiles - I majored in textile design at art school in England, I love different fabric weights, how they feel and also patterns and interpreting them into my artwork, sometimes them being the sole muse.

Music - Music inspires my creativity. I love deep meaningful lyrics that make you dig deeper for meaning and enjoy the energy at live concerts, it really is one of the few things that really connects people of all walks of life. I listen to wide selection of music and whilst painting, usually reflective of what is on the easel!

Culture - I moved From England to the US with my family 16 years ago and also travelled extensively in South Eastern Asia and Europe. It really opened my eyes to the different cultures and enjoy bringing this influence into my artwork.

Mother nature and the Universe - The sun, the moon, eclipses, storms and their cycles and impact on life and our spiritual connection.

(JR) Your perspective becomes your uniqueness. The life experience and knowledge that makes you, YOU. People respond to your perspective wrapped up in your timbre. What is your unique perspective?

(SS) As an observer, I find that everything is a visual connection for me, and words and writing do not come as easily. Moving house frequently as a child impacted my confidence, but the vulnerability I experienced has become a significant part of my art. Social media greatly affects people's mental health, as it often showcases only the good bits people want to share, not the full picture. Through my portraits, I aim to reveal the vulnerability behind the eyes, allowing people to connect with their own emotions and understand that while the exterior is an expression, the truth lies behind the eyes.

Simone Scholes

Portrait Artist working in oils

(JR) Who is your inspiration from history who achieved something similar to what your art is striving to say. What artists do you identify with and why?

(SS) There are countless historical figures who have influenced me, making it difficult to choose just one. Music has had a profound impact on me, with artists like John Lennon and various Northern English bands shaping my perspective, particularly through their working-class backgrounds. However, if I were to pinpoint the essence of my art and what I aim to convey, Frida Kahlo stands out. Her work, primarily focused on portraits and figures, resonates with me deeply. Kahlo's inspiration from nature, Mexican artifacts, and popular culture, along with her exploration of identity, postcolonialism, class, and race, profoundly influences my artistic expression.

Artists who've inspired and influenced my journey as an artist include:

South African artist Ryan Hewitt, his earlier portrait work of prominent figures in history have captivated me for a long time - a random marks, brush strokes and paint scraped create very clearly identifiable portrait without any obvious detail.

US Artist Michael Carson, his figurative paintings really touch on impressionism and his approach to color, lights and shadows really captivate me.  I have done a number of on-line courses by Michael and love his approach and how he builds his paintings.

Anna Kincaide, she does fashion figurative work with wonderful florals and decorative arts. I have enjoyed watching her work evolve over the years.

(JR) Decipher a personified rule, unique to others to make your work interesting adding eccentricity and character. Can you share that?

(SS) My personified rule is to paint a painting in as few brush strokes as possible. I get distracted with detail and my process is an evolution on how I can maintain this goal. All the detail is in the preparation, I sketch, I don't concern about pencil on the board showing through, I like the structure, the story and surface being revealed. I connect it to being like someone's personality peeping through their presented exterior.

(JR) Mediums. Each chosen medium has a reason for being there, explain your choice of mediums to clarify its importance.

(SS) Oil and Linseed oil has been my chosen media since 2019. I was inspired by a painting in a restaurant in Vietnam by Phuong Quoc Tri, came home and bought some oil paints and haven't stopped painting since. Oil, especially with the linseed oil, gives a luster to the colors and the thickness and texture of the brush strokes is something that I cannot achieve with acrylic. I also use metallic leaf and paints, I like to add contrast and enjoy the graphical impact it can add.

(JR) Write a single sentence about your work that instantly would prompt curiosity to your viewer, and ultimately to your dream curator. Think of vulnerabilities, reasons why and how you achieve something important in your work.

(SS) Portraits and figurative work that explores the nuanced beauty and strength of women, inviting viewers to delve into their vulnerabilities and triumphs that shape their stories and inspire a deeper understanding of identity and empowerment.

(JR) Most artists create work intuitively without even knowing why. If you struggle with knowing, begin by explaining what you hide most and what you repeat often.

(SS) As an introvert, I find myself drawn to vulnerability. I cherish my alone time, and in larger social gatherings, I often observe how people hide their vulnerabilities. We all have these traits and have built walls or learned ways to express ourselves through fashion and other means. My work, which usually consists of individual portraits or figures, subconsciously reflects this. I'm trying to capture the vulnerabilities hidden beneath a seemingly confident exterior. Each of my paintings contains a glimpse of me in some way. This connection is what draws me to a person or image. Without it, I fall into a creative slump.

(JR) Ultimately, imagine that your platform is a worldwide space of ideology without confines of social media. Act that way and move in a direction that will elevate the message you want to share. What would you be doing with your art without social?

(SS) Without social media I'd be spending more time in social gatherings, travelling and visiting galleries and places for inspiration, maybe there would be less vulnerability to influence my work without social media?

(JR) Imagine that you could travel anywhere for inspiration and self-enlightenment, visit parks and hike or go somewhere just to be alone with yourself— to shut off the world, listen to your voice, write down or sketch and let your soul free to identify your path and yearly goals. Share anything you want about how new environments and introspection affect your practice.

(SS) I find inspiration in various sources, such as shows, galleries, and museums, where I delve into the depths of color and artistic expression. My extensive travels across Southeast Asia and Europe have significantly influenced my work, allowing me to incorporate elements of cultural dress and identity. Additionally, spending time in nature, whether it's a peaceful walk on the trails with my dogs or a day at the beach, provides me with a sense of connection and the opportunity to explore my thoughts and creative ideas.

(JR) In your art career, share a time when you followed your fears, broke down walls, discovered yourself. It’s not always pretty—but it always leads to growth. Your example could inspire others.

(SS) When I first delved into oil painting in 2019, I naturally gravitated towards large canvases, inspired by the grandeur of the artwork that captivated me. Over the next few years, as I experimented with various techniques and mediums, I continued to work on a grand scale, often spending months on a single piece. This process involved numerous revisions and sometimes ended with the painting being abandoned in the basement. It took me a while to appreciate the value of smaller canvases for experimentation. Now, I always start small to test new ideas before committing to larger works and some of my favorite pieces are my smaller scale.

(JR) Once you are accepted into an exhibition, please share your insight about how to make the most of your inclusion before, during and after, your workflow—to promote, show up, add to CV and website, sharing, annual wrap up reels, etc.

(SS) When accepted into an exhibition, I make sure to note all key dates, including drop-off and pick-up times, as well as show receptions or events, so I can attend as many as possible. I follow all galleries, curators, artists, and connections involved with the event, which allows me to tag and share relevant content. I post on social media about my acceptance into the event, provide reminders about upcoming receptions, and communicate when I will be in attendance. I keep an updated resume of the show and record any awards received. Additionally, I create monthly and yearly updates, often in the form of a collage of media posts from throughout the year. During the show, I monitor what other artists are sharing, comment on their posts, and share their content.

Simone Scholes, process images

The profound insight that emerges from this conversation isn’t just an intimate view into Simone’s process—it’s a deeper understanding of how time and place has impact and can quietly shape an artist’s voice. Simone Scholes carries the imprint of everywhere she’s been, England, Southeast Asia, the U.S.—not as literal imagery, but these things are used as atmosphere, rhythm and motivator. Culture, movement and environment become embedded in her creamy and lustrous portrait work, influencing her choices in color, gesture and emotion, even when the subject remains a single, steady gaze. The details and the demeanor of the subject speak in strength and we believe this strength in her subjects are what draws people in first. Once in front of her work, there is no way not to slide into each one, devouring each delicious and intentful brushstroke with your eyes.

There’s a poignant reason that artists have always sought new landscapes throughout centuries, different light, unfamiliar air impact our senses. Distance creates clarity and barriers to routine. Immersion in sights and sounds shifts perspective. Through platforms like Juniper Rag that share intimate artist stories, we’re reminded that inspiration isn’t static—it’s something you step into. When artists allow themselves the space to experience, reflect, and absorb, the work that follows carries something undeniable, a sense of having been somewhere and returning changed.