Versatile artist and teacher who studied at the Whitgift School under F H Potter, joining evening classes at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, 1945–7, teachers including William Coldstream, Claude Rogers, Rodney Burn, Elliott Seabrooke and John Dodgson. He was accepted by Randolph Schwabe for the Slade School of Fine Art, 1947–50, attending University of London Institute of Education, 1950–1. After two years’ service with the Royal Artillery, from 1953 taught at Plaistow County Grammar School, studying art history part-time at the Courtauld Institute, passing in 1954. In 1959, Simons moved into further education, joining the department of painting and graphic design at Twickenham College of Technology (later Richmond upon Thames Tertiary College), retiring in 1990.