Simon Hall is a Bristol (UK) based artist, GP and academic specialised in delivering art/science collaborations, medical education and research through the visual arts.
As a visual artist dual qualified in both medicine and dentistry, Simon uses craft, sculpture, immersive digital media and BioArt to consider medical ethics, emerging technologies and the body in health and disease. With multi-faceted experience in both community healthcare and reconstructive medicine, Simon leads projects transecting arts and medical spaces often exploring issues of visible difference, identity and the portrait.
His work draws together patients, clinicians, artists and academics to collaborate upon socially engaged and curiosity driven arts research. Simon's arts practice utilises digital and physical creative participatory experiences, educates through the arts, and explores healthcare narratives.
Get in touch with Simon to find out how you could work together.
‘Our staff find fresh inspiration from working alongside Simon. We continue to be fascinated by his experience as a doctor, a visual artist, an academic and a socially engaged facilitator.’
‘Metal were able to engage with a brand new audience group, thanks to Simon’s exciting processes and accessible approach to working across the fields of art and science.'
’We often refer to Simon’s residency with us as an exemplar model of what can be achieved in a month.’
Metal Culture UK
Art/Science Artist
& Project Manager
From traditional craft and sculpture, to immersive digital technologies, wet laboratory BioArt and materials science, Simon uses broad mediums as an artist. His collaborative art/science practice playfully and experimentally explores at the transection of disciplines, creates using materials developed within science environments and connects through storytelling.
Simon provides consultancy and project management support for arts projects exploring the intersection of art and medicine. He is passionate about bringing together diverse project partnerships especially those involving social engagement.
'Coastal Tonic' (2023). A project exploring the sensory relationship between healthcare and coastal waters including community engagement, archival investigation and wet lab artwork created to explore the rejuvenating properties of the seaside environment.
Metal Culture UK
Art/Science Research
Simon's curiosity-driven research explores the medical sciences and subjects of ethics, identity, the senses and embodiment through trans-disciplinary arts practices.
His projects draw in collaborators across the arts and sciences to interweave ideas, innovate and collectively challenge at the fringes of disciplinary boundaries. Research often includes engaging with emerging technologies and scientific developments such as immersive digital technologies, laboratory techniques and materials science alongside historical processes, traditional craft skills and patient narratives.
Research outcomes often include engaging artwork, talks and hands-on experiences for diverse audiences which are often created with co-production and speculative design methods in partnership with community and academic groups.
'Prosthetic Futures' (2025). A University of Bristol research project exploring the co-design of speculative reconstructive prosthetics. Together patients, artists, health professionals and reconstructive scientists are reflecting upon the embodiment and senses of future prosthetic technologies.
The Brigstow Institute (UoB) & North Bristol NHS Trust
Teaching
Simon teaches widely on the intersection of art and medicine. He lectures and leads art workshops for university students, professionals and the general public.
From dissection room anatomical art teaching, sculptural mediums, shed-lab art setups with medical and dental materials, BioArt, immersive digital technologies, and craft, Simon is experienced in delivering fun and diverse art/science workshops for audiences. He particularly enjoys drawing together collaborators from varied disciplines, engaging with young people and working with charitable partners to offer engagement activities, education and increase access to art/science practice.
'Sculptural Snogging' (2024) explores sexual healthcare research documenting the negative experiences of trans and gender non-binary young adults and their poor access to services. In partnership with LGBTQ+ charities, the projects explores in public spaces setup as art laboratories that playfully blend physical and digital making to foster connection, education, and awareness.
British Science Association & FutureEverything (Manchester)
Community Engagement
Simon often collaborates alongside community partners to explore kindred interests together. Projects are frequently developed with charities, community health groups, patients and the general public to embed diverse views into explorations, bridge their communication with medical professionals and cultivate shared outcome benefits.
Together Simon works with communities to develop engagement activities, reach new audiences and increase access to art/science practice.
‘A Cleft In Time’ (2016-present) is a long-term arts programme exploring narratives of growing up with a cleft lip and palate in collaboration with the cleft lip and palate association. Using hands-on dental materials, craft and digital technologies, the public engagement project amplifies young voices as collaborators to share their hidden stories.
CLAPA, Science Gallery London, AXIS & South West Cleft Service
The Lancet. Child & Adolescent Health (2021)