Simon Baliol Brett

Simon Baliol Brett (27 May 1943 – 29 December 2024) was a British artist known for his work in wood engraving. He created more than 1,000 engravings for over sixty books, including works for The Folio Society, fine press books, bookplates and independent work. His personal subject matter included politics, philosophy, human form, war, ethics and religion. Brett’s work is held in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Brett led the revival of wood engraving as a fine art form in the 1980s, collaborating closely with Hilary Paynter. As Chair of the Society of Wood Engravers from 1986–1992, he worked to fulfill the Society’s objective of promoting wood engraving. He curated two major exhibitions for the Society, Engraving Then and Now (1987) and Wood Engraving Here and Now (1995–1996).