Simon Morris Video, Sculptor
A British-born Canadian Citizen, Simon lived and sculpted on Saltspring Island in British Columbia for thirty years, now based on Vancouver Island. He was inducted as a Signature Member of the Artists for Conservation Foundation in February 2020 and as a Member, College of fellows, The Royal Canadian Geographic Society in October 2021. He is the creator of the two nine-foot tall underwater bronze mermaids, "The Emerald Princess" in Mermaid Cove, in Saltery Bay near Powell River, British Columbia, and "Amphitrite" at Sunset House Grand Cayman, as well as "The Guardian of the Reef" placed underwater at Divetech resort in West Bay, Grand Cayman. Simon has also worked concurrently in the diving industry since 1973 for many of the major companies, including GM at SCUBAPRO Canada, International Product Development Manager for SCUBPRO, and VP Product Development Manager for BARE. Currently Sales Manager for Shearwater Research Inc.
Large Installations:
1989 Powell River, BC - “The Emerald Princess” - nine foot (3m) bronze mermaid placed 60 feet underwater for scuba tourism and environmental awareness.
Commissioned by DIVE BC - View In Website
2000 Grand Cayman, BWI - “Amphitrite” - nine foot (3m) bronze mermaid placed 50 feet underwater for scuba tourism and environmental awareness.
Commissioned by Sunset House Resort - View In Website
2003 Georgetown, Grand Cayman, BWI - “Tradition” - two life size figures unveiled by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, on the Quintecentennial Anniversary of the discovery of the Cayman Islands by Columbus, in memoriam to the nearly 500 Caymanian souls lost at sea recorded since 1792.
Commissioned by The Caymanian Mariners' Memorial Society, Bob Soto, CBE. - View In Website
2005 Gulf Islands, British Columbia - “After the Potlatch” - Life size figure of a First Nations Chief installed on a rocky beach on private property.
Private Commission - View In Website
2006 Vancouver, British Columbia - “Henry Larsen” - Life size figure of RCMP Sgt. Henry Larsen, master of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch during the crossing of the North-West Passage, 1942-44
Commissioned by The Vancouver Maritime Museum. Installed and unveiled on the Port foredeck of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch in July, 2006 - View In Website
2014 Grand Cayman BWI - “The Guardian of the Reef” - 13 foot tall mythical figure, half man half seahorse installed in 70 feet of water at Divetech, in West Bay to promote environmental awareness. Funds raised by divers' donations to support activities of the “West Bay Warriors”, a group formed to educate at-risk Caymanian youth in the value of the marine environment.
Commissioned by Divetech - View In Website
Sculptural awards: (sculptures by Simon presented to award recipients)
| 1992 Toronto | Underwater Canada presents “Ocean Flight” to Douglas Rosser as recipient of the Canadian National Underwater Achievement Award. |
| 1996 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Jim Willoughby as the inaugural recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2000 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Dr. Phil Nyutten as the second recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2004 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Dr. Michael Lepawski, Director, Vancouver Hyperbaric Medicine, as the third recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2004 Vancouver | Canadian Association of Freediving and Apnea (CAFA) presents “Apnea” to winner of the Association for the International Development of Apnea (AIDA) World Free Diving Championships held in Vancouver, August 2004. |
Societies:
Royal Canadian Geographic Society - October, 2021 Inducted as Member, College of Fellows
Artists For Conservation Foundation - Signature Member, February 2020
Ocean Artists Society, October, 2003 Orlando, Florida - Inducted as an inaugural member
Arts & Cultural Highway of British Columbia - Member
Oceans 2000 - Member (a group of leadership level sponsors of the Ocean Futures Foundation)
Shows by Invitation:
| 2001 | DEMA Show New Orleans - Featured Artist (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) |
| 2001 | 28th World Festival of Underwater Pictures at Antibes-Juan-Les-Pins, France Invited & displayed as Representative of Canadian Marine Art |
| 2002 | Our World Underwater Chicago - Artist and Featured Speaker |
| 2002 | DEMA Show Las Vegas - Featured Artist with Wyland |
| 2002 | Comox Underwater Film Festival - Featured Artist & Master of Ceremonies |
| 2003 | DEMA Show Miami - Featured Artist with Wyland and Ocean Artists Society |
| 2004 | Vancouver Aquarium “Dive 2004” - Featured Artist |
| 2004 | DEMA Show Houston - Featured Artist |
| 2013 | DEMA Show Orlando - for unveiling of “The Guardian of the Reef” |
Awards:
| 1990 Toronto | Recipient of Canadian National Underwater Achievement Award, presented by Underwater Canada |
| 1990 Vancouver | Recipient of Appreciation Award presented by SCUBA Diving Association of British Columbia (Both regarding the installation of the Mermaid in Powell River) |
Collections:
Represented internationally by corporate & individual collectors in Argentinian Patagonia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Grand Cayman, Kuwait, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, & USA including Hawaii
Professional Association of Underwater Instructors - PADI
Commissioned life-size busts of the founders, John Cronin and Ralph Erickson, installed at PADI Founders' hall, Santa Anna, California View In Website
Support for non-profit organizations:
Simon has raised funds through the sale, donation and auction of his work for the following organizations:
The Ocean Futures Foundation
PADI PROJECT A.W.A.R.E (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility Education)
Sea Save Foundation
Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, British Columbia
OceanWise (Vancouver Aquarium)
Cayman Magic Reef Recovery
The Shark Research Institute
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
The Canadian Cancer Foundation
Artspring (Center for Performing Arts, Saltspring Island, British Columbia)
Media Representation:
Simon's work has been featured in local, national and international media as follows:
BCTV, CITY TV & CTV (Canadian Television Networks)
Base2 Media (ongoing video documentary)
Diver Magazine (Canada)
Diver Magazine (England)
DiverNewsWire
Northwest Dive News Magazine
Oktonyk (”Octopus”) Magazine (Russia)
Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine
Skin Diver Magazine
Tauchen (Diving) Magazine (Germany)
The Cayman Compass Newspaper
The New Yorker Magazine
The Undersea Journal Magazine
Vancouver Sun Newspaper