A watercolor painting of two smiling children, a girl wearing glasses with a small dog, and another girl, both showing joy and happiness.

Loose Emotive Watercolour

Award-winning watercolour portraits and original paintings by Lorraine Simonds. Commissioned works, originals, prints, and private mentorship from Squamish, British Columbia.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Watercolour Artist Lorraine Simonds smiling while working at her studio on commissions

Hi! I’m Lorraine Simonds

I’m a British-Canadian Watercolour Artist based in Squamish BC, celebrated for my loose, emotive and atmospheric watercolour portraits.

I seek to reveal - not manufacture - the unrelenting presence of light that cannot be overcome with darkness, sharing the transformational power of beauty, with a hope that’s grounded in truth.

Open magazine titled "The Art of Watercolour" featuring artwork and articles about watercolor painting, with images of watercolor portraits and an artist at work.
Woman smiling and holding an open magazine with a cover titled 'Watercolor' and a woman holding flowers.
An open magazine featuring watercolor portraits and artwork, with one page showing a large watercolor of a woman's face and others with smaller watercolor portraits, against a grey surface background.
Open magazine on grey surface, featuring watercolor portraits of children and adults, with text and colorful images on the pages.
A watercolor painting of a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, surrounded by green foliage, on the cover of a magazine titled 'Canadian Watercolour'.
A woman with long black hair, wearing a brown shirt, smiling, and holding an art book titled 'Revelations of the Artist' featuring a watercolor portrait of a person's face.
Open art magazine showing watercolor portraits of elderly people, laid on a gray surface with shadows.
Poster for the Canadian Watercolour Fall Show 2025, featuring a watercolor painting of a woman's face with striking green eyes and flowing hair, placed on a green surface.
Open magazine with an illustration of a woman with short hair, wearing a white T-shirt, and a photo of a woman lying on a bed reading a book, wrapped in a colorful blanket, with a cup of coffee nearby.
AWARD WINNING WORK

AWARD WINNING WORK

LOOSE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS

LOOSE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS

COMMISSION A PORTRAIT

COMMISSION A PORTRAIT

PRIVATE LESSONS & MENTORSHIP

PRIVATE LESSONS & MENTORSHIP

WORKSHOPS & RETREATS

WORKSHOPS & RETREATS

PRINTS & GIFTS

PRINTS & GIFTS

“It only takes a single photon of light to pierce utter darkness – just one. And when the world can seem to be growing dimmer and darker, that quiet, small light becomes all the more visible, all the more impactful. That’s what I’m seeking in my work – not manufacturing light, but revealing its unrelenting presence: a hope that’s grounded in truth.”

—Lorraine Simonds

A loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor painting of a young woman with dark, hair, wearing a white tank top, with a neutral expression, her eyes slightly closed, and her arms resting on her lap.
A loose atmospheric watercolor painting of an elderly person with gray hair and glasses, standing outdoors with a blue sky and clouds in the background
Watercolor painting of a woman in glasses and a floral dress laughing, a woman in a pink shirt smiling, and a woman holding two puppies. All three women have dark hair and are depicted with warm expressions.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor painting of a man with a red beard, wearing a black cap and a dark shirt, outdoors with a soft, colorful background.
A loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor portrait of a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, looking slightly to the side.
Abstract, loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor portrait of a person's face with closed eyes, water splashes, and vibrant colors including pink, orange, and dark hues.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor painting of a woman with eyes closed, showing her face with detailed features including closed eyes, nose, and lips, with water splashes and abstract colors surrounding her face.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor painting of a smiling man with a beard, wearing glasses and a head covering, against a blue background.
Loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor portrait of a woman with curly hair, smiling with eyes partially closed, wearing a blue top.
Loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor painting of a man with a bald head, glasses, and a beard, wearing a dark shirt, looking slightly to the left.
Loose atmospheric and emotional watercolor painting of a family - a smiling man and woman holding a baby with bright blue eyes, dressed in green, in a warm, intimate moment.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor portrait of a woman with dark hair and expressive eyes, looking to the side against a light background.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor painting of a man with a beard, glasses, and a hat, with his hand resting on his face, in warm earthy tones.
A loose atmospheric and emotional watercolour painting of a woman with long dark hair, eyes closed, lips slightly parted, touching her chest with one hand, and holding her hand up in a stop gesture.
Loose atmospheric and emotional Watercolor portrait of a woman wearing a baseball cap, with a smile and a background of green hues.
EXPLORE MY WORKS 
Custom Portraits & Commissioned Paintings
Lorraine Simonds drawing in her studio in Squamish BC Canada

Commissioned Paintings

Whether celebration or memorial, pet portrait or corporate gifting, I provide an easy to understand process and interactive service for your custom painting.

LEARN MORE

Available Originals

A Long-Awaited Glimpse (9x12) A Long-Awaited Glimpse (9x12)
A Long-Awaited Glimpse (9x12)
$500.00

9x12, Unframed Watercolour on Cotton, 2025

There are seasons of waiting that stretch longer than expected. In those places, clarity can feel distant, and hope can become something held quietly rather than confidently. Still, there are moments when what has been longed for comes into view, not all at once, but enough to steady the heart.

A long-awaited glimpse is about that kind of moment. The instant when something once hidden begins to show itself again, and the soul responds before words can catch up. Not full arrival, not complete resolution, but a true sign that the horizon is changing.

Sometimes that is all that is needed - a glimpse, a shift, a small unveiling. Enough to lift the eyes. Enough to begin again.

John (9x12) John (9x12)
John (9x12)
$500.00

9x12, Unframed Watercolour on Cotton, 2026

The middle distance matters. Not only the next step, and not only the far-off horizon. Near vision keeps you responsive. Long vision keeps you anchored. Middle vision keeps you steady.

Sometimes wisdom is playing the long game. Sometimes it's pivoting quickly. Often it's learning to live in between – attentive enough to adjust, patient enough to endure, calm enough to choose what matters most.

It's a way of seeing that refuses panic and refuses fantasy. It holds the present honestly, and it keeps moving with purpose.

Heather (9x12) Heather (9x12)
Heather (9x12)
$500.00

9x12, Unframed Watercolour on Cotton, 2026

Some paintings are made slowly in private. Others are made in the open, where every decision is visible and nothing can be over-managed. A live demonstration asks for a different kind of courage – to commit, to simplify, and to keep moving even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.

This work carries that immediacy. It's about attention more than perfection – the discipline of seeing, the willingness to respond, and the quiet confidence that clarity can emerge without being forced. There's something honest in a painting that still shows its decisions.

The Time In-Between The Time In-Between
The Time In-Between
$1,000.00

Lingering in the space where past and present intertwine, between waiting and moving forward, between holding on and letting go. Sometimes, we exist in that fragile place where grief and quiet strength converge, suspended between what was and what is yet to come.

First Place in the 2025 Works on Paper Exhibition held at the prestigious Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC.

COLLECT ORIGINALS

Watercolour Portraits and Original Paintings by Lorraine Simonds

Lorraine Simonds in her artist studio in Squamish

Lorraine Simonds is an award-winning Canadian watercolour artist known for loose, expressive portraits that reveal light in honest, unexpected places. Working from her studio in Squamish, BC, she paints original watercolours and custom commissions — celebration portraits, memorial pieces, and narrative works that carry real emotional weight.

A Signature Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (SFCA), Elect Member of the Society of Canadian Art (SCA) and Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC), and BC Representative for the International Watercolour Society, Lorraine's work has been exhibited in Canada, England, France, China, and India, and featured in Watercolor Artist, Canadian Watercolour, and Art Avenue magazines.

She also teaches through private mentorship, workshops and international painting retreats, and prerecorded lessons — guiding artists toward technical confidence and creative independence.

About the artist
Achievements

JOURNAL ENTRIES

Journal
Practicing Artists who offer Mentorship Programs
Practicing Artists who offer Mentorship Programs

Yes – there are teachers who are practicing artists who sell original watercolours and mentorship programs. In fact, it is one of the clearest signals you are dealing with someone who is not only making work, but also thinking deeply about craft, process, and the long game of becoming an artist.

I’m one of them.

I paint original watercolour portraits and narrative pieces, and I also teach through private lessons, workshops, and a longer mentorship program. For collectors, that combination matters more than people realise. For students, it changes everything.

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Seen & Known; Solo Show
Seen & Known; Solo Show

My Solo Show, Seen & Known opens on Saturday, March 21st, and I have the opening reception for my BIGGEST solo show so far, at the Foyer Gallery in the Squamish Public Library, from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

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Memorial Portraits: How to Honour Someone Well
Memorial Portraits: How to Honour Someone Well

Commissioning a memorial portrait is a tender thing to do.

It is not just about creating a likeness. It is about honouring someone’s life in a way that feels truthful, and giving yourself (or your family) something steady to return to when words run out.

If you are considering a memorial portrait, here are a few practical, gentle things that can help you make decisions without feeling rushed.

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Why You Don’t Need Art School to Become a Professional Watercolour Artist
Why You Don’t Need Art School to Become a Professional Watercolour Artist

I have a lot of respect for art education. I also don’t believe it has to look like a university degree.

I went to art school. I’ve also learned through online education, in-person workshops, and mentorships with working professional artists. And if I’m honest, most of the growth that actually made me a stronger painter – and a more sustainable professional – came after graduation.

So if you’re wondering whether you need art school to become a successful watercolour artist, my answer is simple: no. You need training, feedback, and mileage. You need to learn how to see. You need to learn how to work. But you don’t need a formal degree to do that.

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How to Frame a Watercolour Properly
How to Frame a Watercolour Properly

Framing a watercolour well is not about being precious or fussy. It is about protecting paper  and giving the artwork the kind of finish it deserves.

Watercolour is pigment sitting in (and on) paper fibres. That means the framing choices around it matter more than most people realise. The good news is you do not need to memorise a hundred technical terms. You just need to know what actually affects longevity and what is mostly sales talk.

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How to Choose a Photo for a Watercolour Portrait Commission
How to Choose a Photo for a Watercolour Portrait Commission

Choosing the right reference photo is the single biggest factor in how your watercolour portrait turns out. Not because I need a “perfect” photo, but because watercolour is honest – it translates light, shape, and atmosphere in a very direct way. A strong photo gives us something solid to build on, so the finished portrait can feel both true to the person and true to the medium.

If you’re commissioning a portrait (for a child, a partner, a memorial, or a gift), here’s what to look for.

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Watercolour Portrait vs Oil Portrait – What to Expect?
Watercolour Portrait vs Oil Portrait – What to Expect?

If you’re considering commissioning a portrait, the first question usually isn’t whether you want one – it’s what kind. Watercolour and oil portraits can both be deeply personal, heirloom-level pieces, but they behave very differently as mediums. That affects everything from how the portrait feels, to how it’s displayed, to what you can reasonably expect from the process.

This guide will help you choose with clarity (and without the jargon).

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Introducing My New Watercolor Paint Collection – Perfect for Artists and Gift-Giving
Introducing My New Watercolor Paint Collection – Perfect for Artists and Gift-Giving

Available for Pre-Order – Just in Time for Christmas!

Are you searching for the perfect watercolour paint palette to elevate your art or to gift to the artist in your life? I’m thrilled to announce the release of my signature watercolour paint collection, now available for pre-order through the Rockwell Website!

As an award-winning watercolour artist specialising in loose, atmospheric portraits, this collection reflects my favourite foundational palettes. Each set is carefully curated to help you achieve depth, emotion, and vibrancy in your work.

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Evoking Stories in Watercolour Portraits: Exploring Emotional Depth
Evoking Stories in Watercolour Portraits: Exploring Emotional Depth

In the world of art, there exists a unique and mesmerizing ability to evoke emotions, narrate stories, and forge connections through brushstrokes and hues. I, myself, can't over-emphasize how highly I place relationships and community, and how much my practice depends on it - I believe we are designed for relationships. As a watercolour portrait artist, my journey delves into capturing more than mere likeness; it aims to encapsulate emotions and provoke contemplation to create that connection. 

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Rockwell International Brand Ambassador
Rockwell International Brand Ambassador

Honoured and stoked to Announce that I have been appointed by Rockwell Art Canada as an International Brand Ambassador. 🎉🥂🥳

I'm beyond excited to have discovered their pigments that play and dance so well with each other, but also enhance my painting process and add beautiful complexity to my paintings when used with the pigments already in my palette.

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