Simon Griffiths
Visual storyteller, adventurer, observer, photographic Illustrator, breadmaker, cyclist, pseudo musician, carpenter & engineer when necessary, collaborator, & loyal friend always.
Simon Griffiths was born in England but has called Raleigh, North Carolina his home since he was eleven. As a student in 1983, Simon found himself under the basket at the NCAA National Basketball Championship documenting the last second shot by Lorenzo Charles of NC State. That was perhaps the beginning of a career that defines the adage of never giving up taught by the late basketball coach Jim Valvano. Armed with a degree in Civil Engineering and, obviously, a sense of humor, Simon became a photojournalist and sports photographer. Later a transition into commerical photography and advertising culminated in a portfolio of annual reports and illustrations for many of North Carolina's best companies. Red Hat, Highwoods, CCB as well as many others counted on him to capture the best of their products, services, and leadership.
Simon's editorial work has been featured in national magazines such as Smithsonian, National Geographic, Inc. Magazine, CEO Magazine, Banking Strategies, and many other local, regional, and national publications.
Through Avanti Press, Simon has sold over two million greeting cards.
In 2005, Simon went into transition again formulating a plan to get back to the work he loves the most... black and white portraits culminating in 2009 with the publishing of Secrets of Success, NC Values-Based Leadership authored by retired General Hugh Shelton, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and published by Ivy House Books, featuring 35 of NC's most notable citizens.
Today Simon continues to offer the same services, but has expanded to produce fine art photography and photo illustrations purchased for home, corporate, and retail environments.
Simon has also acted as a curator, art director, designer, and project manager for public art projects commissioned by developers and property management companies. His natural ability to communicate with artists as well as clients has resulted in finished projects in Raleigh,NC, Old Bridge, NJ, Richmond, VA, and a major project on the Centennial campus of NC State University.
Currently Simon is coordinating public art projects in Atlanta and Raleigh.