Simon Clarke’s quirky artwork always attracts a crowd at our gallery window. Fluffy sheep wander through crooked streets, peep out from unexpected places and find themselves caught up in scenes full of mischief. His paintings are full of atmosphere and character, with playful titles and little details that reward a closer look. They never fail to make us smile.
There is a personal connection behind our collection, too. Simon and his wife Jo came to visit us at The Braithwaite Gallery and explore York, with Simon walking around the city with his camera, gathering ideas for a painting to create for the gallery. The result was What a Shambles, his wonderfully eccentric take on one of York’s best-loved streets.
York’s history and stories offered plenty of inspiration. Among the sheep in What a Shambles, you’ll find nods to ghosts, Vikings, Harry Potter and the city’s chocolate-making heritage. Simon credits Jo with many of the quirky additions, making the picture a lovely reminder of their visit as well as a playful celebration of our city.
That same sense of fun runs through his wider collection. Literary favourites, familiar television references and imaginative shopfronts become part of Simon’s sheep-filled world, where an ordinary street can turn into a small adventure. Whether you spot the joke straight away or discover another detail later, there is always something to enjoy.
Explore Simon Clarke’s open edition art prints below, with framed canvas prints, box canvases and mounted miniature prints available across the collection. Each offers a different way to bring his humour and character into your home, from a small mounted print to a larger canvas full of details.
