Simon Croft: I’m a trans-man living and working in London. I transitioned in my early 30’s and began making art at roughly the same time. Progressing through several courses of study over a period of 8 years, I completed a BA in Fine Art (Kingston University) in 2006, winning the Waterstones prize for Best Studio Dissertation for “Skin Problems: Can Transgendered Art Move Beyond the Body?” in my final year.

I’ve exhibited regularly since then in groups shows including Trans_Homo (Schwules Museum, Berlin, 2012); Loudest Whispers (St Pancras Conference Centre, 2010, 2011 & 2012); GFest (Hampstead Town Hall Gallery 2010 & Dreamspace Gallery 2011); Fresh Meat in the Gallery V (San Francisco, 2008); Art Out! (Novas Gallery, Camden, 2008); and Transfabulous (Oxford House, Bethnal Green, 2006) as well as online spaces such as ‘Bodies of Work’ (2012).

My work seeks to discuss and explore trans-life in mainly abstract ways; I believe creative works of all kinds play a vital role in broadening the visibility of trans people and in developing a trans / gender variant / queer community and culture.

My practice has also included elements of other disciplines - I curated the Transfabulous film programme (2007), was invited by Sara Davidmann to co-curate ‘Trans Lives: Presenting the (Extra) Ordinary’ (2008), won the 2008 Transfabulous prize in Chroma Queer Writing Competition with my short story ‘Passing (Over)’ and created the visuals, publicity materials, book cover and layout for “There Is No Word For It” – part of the (Trans) Mangina Monologues project (2009-11).

Alongside my current practice, I work in the London voluntary sector, supporting a range of not-for-profit organizations.