A NEW CHAPTER - JOINING CASTLE FINE ART
- Rich Simmons
 - Sep 12
 - 3 min read
 
This year marks one of the most exciting milestones in my career as I officially join Castle Fine Art. For me, this isn’t just a new partnership—it’s the beginning of a chapter that feels like the natural evolution of everything I’ve worked toward, while also opening the door to possibilities I’ve only dreamed about.
My journey has always been about finding freedom in creativity. I’ve never followed the traditional route into the art world. Being self-taught meant learning by doing, failing, evolving, and constantly experimenting. That freedom gave me the ability to fuse influences from street art, pop culture, fashion, music, and rebellion into a visual language that became uniquely mine. Pop Punk Art was born out of that restless energy, and it has grown into a philosophy as much as a style.

When I think about the early days—spray-painting walls, launching Art Is The Cure, and seeing how people connected with the work—it was never about chasing status or fitting in. It was about connection. It was about taking the rawness of life, the chaos of the world, and channeling it into something that could make people stop, feel, and think. That same drive has never left me, and it’s what continues to fuel every new piece I create.
Castle Fine Art represents a perfect partner because they understand and respect that vision. From our very first conversations, it was clear they weren’t looking for me to tone anything down or fit neatly into a box. They wanted the boldness, the storytelling, the emotional weight—the things that make Pop Punk Art resonate with people. That understanding is what convinced me this was the right step forward.
What excites me most about joining Castle Fine Art is the scale of what becomes possible. My work will now be exhibited in 38 galleries across the UK, giving me a nationwide presence I’ve never had before. To think that something which began as cutting stencils on my bedroom floor has now grown into a body of work reaching audiences all over the country is both surreal and deeply rewarding.
There’s even a touch of irony in this new chapter. When I first started cutting stencils, I was often compared to Edward Scissorhands because of the hours spent with a scalpel in hand. Now, years later, I find myself exhibiting alongside Johnny Depp—the very actor who brought that character to life—under the Castle Fine Art banner. It’s a full-circle moment that reminds me how far this journey has taken me.
Looking back on key moments in my career, I see a natural progression leading here. Every series of paintings, every exhibition, every mural has been a stepping stone, each one building on the last, weaving together my philosophy and vision. Castle Fine Art feels like the place where all of those threads can come together and grow in this new chapter.
It’s also deeply personal. I’ve always said art is my therapy, my release, and my way of processing the world. Through colour, texture, and narrative, I’ve found a way to communicate ideas and emotions that can be hard to put into words. That’s why this next chapter matters so much to me. It isn’t just about sales or exposure—it’s about sharing more of those conversations with people who connect to the work in their own way.
The partnership with Castle Fine Art feels like validation, but also liberation. Validation that the years of graft, experimentation, and resilience were worth it. Liberation in knowing that I now have a platform that allows me to keep evolving, to keep experimenting, and to bring bigger, bolder ideas to life. Together, we’re building a relationship where the rebellious energy of Pop Punk Art can thrive on an even greater stage.
As I look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude for the journey so far and energy for what’s still to come. Joining Castle Fine Art isn’t the end of one era and the start of another—it’s the continuation of a story that has always been about freedom, rebellion, and expression. It’s about taking everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve created, and everything I still want to say, and sharing it on the biggest stage yet. And I couldn’t be more excited to begin.


















Comments