Simon Beck

SIMON BECK is the world’s first and most famous "Snow Artist". He graduated in Engineering from Oxford University but decided later on to leave his office job in order to become a cartographer. In December 2004, after a day of skiing, he got the idea to draw a star on the small frozen lake in front of his place. His sense for orientation in combination with his passion for outdoor and physical activities inspired him to complete a snow creation. The day after, looking down from the ski lift; he was impressed by the result. After the next snowfall, he repeated the exercise by creating an even more complex drawing. Snow Art was born.

During his childhood, Simon Beck drew mostly geometrical forms. The geometrical drawings were inspired by Koch's snowflake and became more complex over time. Simon’s drawings cover an area of 1 to 4 hectares (corresponding to 2 to 8 soccer fields - 2.5 to 10 acres) and take up to 12 hours to complete and demand a walk of 20 to 30 kilometers in the snow - wearing snowshoes. Hence, his creations are both artistic and athletic performances – truly unique creations shaped by the varying and challenging conditions of the environment.

Simon's creations gather thousands of fans from all around the world with over 270 000 fans on Facebook. He has also created and accomplished Snow Art performances for world-renowned brands. As he is always looking for new experiences, with the desire to raise awareness of the environment, Simon Beck continues to provide beautiful creations and wonderful photos of his fascinating art form.

3 words to describe Nature?

Beautiful. Unforgiving of human error. Uncaring

3 things Nature taught you?

Always be mindful for your own safety

Nature does not play by human rules

Nature can never be predicted, unexpected is its nature

3 most treasured Nature spots?   

Mont Blanc

Grand Canyon

Big Basin

When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?     

The terror of shipwreck, movies eg Das Botte

When you see a forest, it makes you feel...? 

Memories of when I was a competitive orienteer, I look at it from that viewpoint, how easily can one run through it and what is the terrain like

When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...? 

Hard work climbing them because of the loose stones

When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...? 

Another day of my life has gone for ever

When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...? 

Threatened by the lightening  (when I'm on a mountain)

When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...? 

Thank God I'm indoors

Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person? 

Either mountain or forest

On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being? 

10

Share with us a childhood nature memory? 

Seeing the sunset light lighting up the mountains in North Wales