Sime Gallery started 2024 with an important landmark exhibition at Chris Beetles Art Gallery, Ryder Street, St James, London.    Sidney Sime’s (1865-1941) first London exhibition was 100 years ago in 1924 in St Georges Gallery.  

This exhibition, the first of 2024 for Chris Beetles Gallery, started on 9 January with a reception held for about 100 guests including Trustees, Volunteers of the Sime Gallery and Cllrs Honor and Philip Booker, Worplesdon and Guildford Borough Councillors together with many other invited guests. 

There were only 80 pieces displayed from the much larger collection gifted by his widow, Mary, in 1949 to the Worplesdon Memorial Hall Trustees.  

The Sime Gallery Patron, Thomas Seymour,  grandson of Lord Howard de Walden one of Sime’s own patrons gave an enlightening talk about Sime’s life and art.  One description of the artist was a “maverick genius”.  Many pieces loaned from the Sime Gallery for the month until 27 January have recently been framed and not been seen on display before, along with items from Thomas’s own collection.  

The Sime Gallery opened in 1956 and is still being discovered for the first time by people today. Do come along in February, when the art works have been returned, and admire the splendour of his works in the newly re painted Sime Gallery. Discover the Master of the Mysterious for yourself, one visit is never enough and you can even have tea and cake after your visit. Open 2-4pm on Sunday and Wednesday.  In the meantime, do visit Chris Beetles Gallery before 27 January 2024 to enjoy for yourself, take a friend!