Simon Atack

Artist Biography

Simon Atack was born in West Yorkshire in 1957 and grew up in and around Pontefract. He comes from an artistic and musical family, and his two younger brothers have both made careers in the music business. By contrast, Simon Atack began drawing from a very early age and, with his parents' support, was painting in oils by the age of 7, giving him a head start in his creation of art, prints and posters. He fell in love with aircraft from the moment he first saw one fly but was inspired to take up aircraft painting at the age of 10 by the artwork on Airfix model kits. In particular, he admired the superb paintings of aviation artist Roy Cross, and he bought many Airfix kits solely for the Roy Cross artwork on the box. He was also influenced by aviation movies including The Dambusters, 633 Squadron and The Battle of Britain.

Simon Atack completed a course in graphic art and illustration and is now a professional full-time artist. On many occasions he has been the winner of the "Most Popular Artist Voted by the Public" at Guild of Aviation Artists shows. His aviation art is painted exclusively in oils although his prints and posters are popular as well. His hobbies include flying light aircraft and visiting air shows. He also plays the piano, both jazz and classical, rides horses and is a keen rifle marksman.

Simon Atack's love of aviation art is a result of his belief that "the beauty of these magnificent machines is matched by the almost unbelievable levels of valour, gallantry and not a little human sacrifice displayed by those who flew in them, fought in them and died in them". strives to produce factually and historically authentic paintings and it is his sincere hope that his art, prints and posters "will not only serve as a reminder of a great chapter in military aviation, but also as a memorial to the unique young men who flew these fire-breathers – whatever their nationality – in the epic skies of the Second World War".

Simon Atack Art, Prints and Posters Collection