– The Master of the Mysterious

This autumn, the Sime Gallery in Worplesdon celebrates Sidney Herbert Sime (1865–1941). Mark his 160th birthday with a special lecture at St Mary’s Church on 16 November, 3pm, and the exhibition ‘Bridging Fantasy Across Time’ at New House Art Space, Guildford (6–27 November).

Tucked away inside Worplesdon Memorial Hall (GU3 3RF) on the A322, you’ll find one of Surrey’s true hidden gems — the Sime Gallery. Located upstairs, the gallery celebrates the life and work of the remarkable artist Sidney Herbert Sime (1865–1941), who lived and worked in Worplesdon for the final 37 years of his life with his wife, fellow artist Mary Sime.

Since opening in 1956, the gallery has become home to an extraordinary collection of Sime’s work. Visitors can explore hundreds of his pieces — from large, dramatic oil paintings filled with fantasy and imagination, to delicate pen-and-ink drawings, etchings and landscapes. Many of his illustrations were originally published in London magazines of the late 1800s, and his theatrical caricatures, produced between 1896 and 1898, captured almost 400 of the well-known actors and actresses of that era.

Closer to home, Sime’s eye for character extended to his own community. He often sat sketching local villagers in the New Inn pub, near his home Crown Cottage, opposite St Mary’s Church. These studies later featured in an exhibition at St George’s Gallery, London, and were the subject of a The Sketch magazine article in June 1927 titled ‘Village Types as Sime Sees Them.’

Sime’s talent stretched beyond drawing — he collaborated with composer Josef Holbrooke on ‘Bogey Beasts’ a book of pictures, verses and music, and even produced political cartoons for Pick Me Up magazine in the 1890s. His life reads like a Victorian novel — a rags-to-riches story of perseverance and imagination.

This November marks what would have been Sime’s 160th birthday, and the gallery invites everyone to celebrate. Their Annual Lecture takes place at St Mary’s Church, Worplesdon, on Sunday 16 November at 3pm (see advert for details), while from 6–27 November, New House Art Space, Guildford will host an exhibition of his work titled ‘Bridging Fantasy Across Time.’

The gallery is open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2-4pm, and also runs art activities for adults and children, offers talks for local organisations, and hosts friendly ‘Tea & Talk’ sessions.

For more information, visit www.sidneysimegallery.org.uk or email enquiries@sidneysimegallery.org.uk.