Simon Hardeveld was born in Chamonix, France, in 1949. At the age of fourteen he was sent off to Paris to begin his career in culinary. There he would learn the art of French Cuisine and over the next 20 years he would hone his craft.

A chance trip to New York City would find him creating an entirely new path for his life. Mutual friends would introduce him to his now wife Maria, and they would open and run two successful, award winning restaurants in Miami, Florida. Maria and Simon would move to her native New Orleans and they would take up employment at Bush Antiques. This is where Simon first put down his chef’s hat and began to experiment with paint. As they say, the rest is history!

Over the years his art has grown to be almost synonymous with New Orleans. Many well known local businesses have utilized his signs- Joey K’s, Dat Dog, Willie’s Chicken, WGNO’s New With A Twist TV show, etc - along with thousands of tourists and locals alike who have taken a piece home with them.

At 75 years old Simon continues to work six days a week, rain or heatwave, creating affordable, hand painted works of art for the public. Even though many think of him as a sign painter (and treat him as such) he is actually a fine artist, with a style that pushes far beyond typography. It is almost unheard of for a fine artist of his popularity to take so many commissions for such affordable prices, but as with many artists, Simon does it for the love.