Simon Burns-Cox MSDC

Simon Burns-Cox is a professional Sculptor and Letter Carver who works in stone and marble. Simon particularly enjoys the discipline of Lettering and has an admiration for Eric Gill’s lettering work, the acknowledged master of that craft.

Simon loves working with marble because of its texture and the potential of its many veins and colours. Although many of his pieces are abstractions, they have their origins in natural forms. Simon wants people to handle them, to look closely, and to be reminded of hidden things in the world around them.

Simon uses traditional hand tools and carving techniques with the use of modern machinery and technology to create interior and exterior garden sculptures. He also makes gravestones, memorials, and headstones and offers all types of stone letter carving for home and business.

Simon teaches sculpture, stone carving, stone letter carving and relief carving to groups and individuals at The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop throughout the year. He enjoys introducing the art of stone letter carving to his students and watching them develop.

Over the years, Simon has donated some of his work to the charity, Combat Stress, which supports the mental health of war veterans. He has also worked with Poppyscotland and designed the sculpture ‘FRANCE 1914’ for the commemoration of the ending of The First World War in aid of the charity. The sculpture represents the last remaining tree on the battlefront standing in a desolate landscape but a symbol of hope. It is made from black and gold Portoro marble. It was exhibited at the following venues from March 2016 to 2019. At the end of the three year exhibition, the sculpture was auctioned in aid of the charity.

The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh

The Peoples Palace, Glasgow

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow

The Riverside Museum , Glasgow

The sculpture was sold at auction at the end of the exhibition to help the Charity.

Simon Burns-Cox is a professional Sculptor and Letter Carver who works in stone and marble. He is based at The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland which is an International Centre for Sculptors.

Simon was born in Sussex in 1962 and was educated at Clifton College Bristol and London University. He went into advertising eventually becoming Director of a Medical Advertising Agency in Gloucestershire England.

It was at this point his life changed. Aged 33 he was taken seriously ill with a brain hemorrhage which left him unable to speak for two years. During this bleak period, however, he discovered the Art of Stone Carving which he found allowed him to express himself at this time and gave him much enjoyment. When eventually he recovered after intensive speech therapy, he decided to train formally in stone carving in the UK and then went to Rome, Italy where he spent nearly four years learning the skills and techniques of marble sculpture from Italian craftsmen and artisans.

Upon his return to the UK, he worked at The Bath Artists Studios in Bath, England, for six years and then moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is now based at The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop.

Simon sells his work and exhibits regularly in private galleries, public and solo exhibitions throughout the UK and overseas. His work can be seen in permanent exhibitions in Bath Abbey, Wells Cathedral, and St. John's Church, Edinburgh and he had a three year exhibition from March 2016 to 2019 at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, The People's Palace Museum, The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and The Riverside Museum, Glasgow, in aid of PoppyScotland. The sculpture ‘FRANCE 1914’ was made to commemorate the ending of The First World War. At the end of the exhibition, the sculpture was auctioned in aid of the charity.

Simon accepts both public and private commissions. He teaches sculpture, stone carving, stone letter carving and relief carving to groups and individuals at The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Simon creates both interior and exterior garden sculptures and makes gravestones, memorials, and headstones and offers all types of stone letter carving for home and business.

Simon holds several professional memberships which include the following:

Full Member of The Society of Designer Craftsmen, London MSDC

Associate Member of The Letter Exchange

Member of Visual Arts Scotland

Member of Creative Scotland

Member of The Craft Council UK

Member of The Bath Society of Artists and Simon was on the selection panel for Sculpture when he lived in Bath