For Simone Scott, art comes naturally.
The long-time Cayman Brac artist says it’s been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
“I didn’t get into art, art got into me, as I believe it’s a talent from God,” she says.
She sold her first painting at age 13, when a tourist visited her parent’s craft shop, NIM (Native Island Made) Things on the larger of the Sister Islands.
“That began my art career in earnest,” she says. And it’s been an impressive journey, a calling encouraged and supported by her parents Starrie and Tenson Scott, both well-known artisans from the Brac.
The island and its stunning natural beauty, wildlife, people and culture figure prominently in Simone’s work.
“It is home,” she says. “Home is the most beautiful concept. I see art in everything – nature, people and who we are. Some consider it folk art as it represents my community.” Many are slice-of-life works, such as Brackers working in their yard, fishing or playing music, while others capture the island’s unique flora and fauna.
“I see art in everything – nature, people and who we are.”
– SIMONE SCOTT
MIXED MEDIA
Her portfolio is varied, encompassing a variety of media and styles. That includes acrylics, watercolours and photography along with digital works created with iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil.
Simone credits English iPhone artist David Hockney with her passion for digital art.
“A digital device is just another way to express art in today’s world,” she says.
Along with vibrant digital pieces depicting island life, she has illustrated several children’s books using digital apps, including ‘Let’s Explore the Cayman Islands’ by Taura Ebanks and ‘Quest on the Marl Road’ by Kathleen Bodden-Harris.
Simone studied at the Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, Florida. As of the summer of 2021, she was working on her bachelor of arts in visual communication as a part-time eLearner at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she was granted several scholarships. She planned to enroll as a full-time online student in autumn 2021.
“I’m really enjoying college learning again,” she says.
LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER
Simone is a prolific volunteer, a passion that has earned her many accolades, including the Chairman’s Award for outstanding long-term support of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation.
She’s been a dedicated volunteer with such organisations as the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, National Trust for the Cayman Islands and Cayman Traditional Arts.
She is a founding member of the Brac Heritage Autumn Festival, which celebrates Caymanian cultural heritage through the arts.
“I volunteer not to gain points or awards, which are nice, but it goes back to it being my home – something I treasure greatly,” she says.
Simone has her own gallery, SimoneS Art Gallery, located in NIM Things, which carries her art, along with works by other artists. She does commission pieces and promotes her artwork through her website and social media.
She is grateful for the groundswell of support she has received over the years from individuals, businesses and government, that have helped fuel her artistic projects and passions. Simone also gives thanks to a higher power, considering her talent a gift from God.
“Hopefully I’m using it in a worthy way for the betterment of not only myself, but also my community,” she says.
Many are slice-of-life works, such as Brackers working in their yard, fishing or playing music, while others capture the island’s unique flora and fauna.
This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands and delivered to select homes in eco-tote bags sponsored by LIVING.KY.
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