Artist Jeff Sims returns to Grafton, West Virginia's Gallery 62 West for February exhibit

Sims’ artwork captures scenes from North Central West Virginia, Southern Alabama, and other locations he has visited, including views from his own backyard.

“Many painters paint subjects from all over the world and yet miss the wonders around them,” Sims said. “I chose to start with the most familiar surroundings and build from there.”

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Sims studied fine art at the University of North Carolina. Spending much of his time in the woods of North Carolina and north Georgia, he began painting with acrylics in the early 1980s and became involved in the Asheville gallery scene, primarily at Haywood Park, where he focused on wildlife paintings.

In the early 1990s, Sims transitioned into screen printing, which became his career for more than two decades. Initially working in textile printing, he quickly moved into technical in-plant printing in the compact disc industry, where he worked for nearly 20 years. His work earned him an honorable mention in the 1996 Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Association Golden Image Awards.

After relocating to West Virginia in 2009 to manage a printing operation in the touchscreen industry, Sims returned to painting, this time working with oils. Nearly abandoning painting altogether, he instead found himself creating some of his best work. Expanding beyond wildlife, he now paints landscapes, portraits and botanical still lifes.

“After a long time of painting almost exclusively wildlife, I decided to branch out into other subjects such as botanical and still lifes,” Sims said. “All subjects are scenes that I have directly encountered and have struck me as paintable!”

This marks Sims’ second exhibition at Gallery 62 West, following his debut in August 2023. He also won first place in the 26th Annual Thea Porter Memorial Day Show.

To celebrate his return, the Taylor County Arts Council will host an opening reception Friday as part of Grafton’s February First Friday events. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Sims and view his work from 4-6 p.m.

Additionally, a children’s craft event will be held in the education room next to the gallery, where kids can explore their creativity with watercolors and paint a heart-shaped tree inspired by nature. The craft is being offered free of charge.

For those unable to attend the opening reception, “My Backyard” will be on display at Gallery 62 West throughout February. The gallery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.