Diann Simms

diann Simms

Diann Simms (watercolor artist and graphic designer) has produced graphic designs for AnMed Health Medicus Surgery Center, Medicus Eye Group, Anderson Arts Center, The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail, Grace Episcopal Church, Greenwood Eye Clinic and others. Her watercolors and ink drawings have been shown at The Anderson Arts Center in Anderson, Belton Center for the Arts, The State Fair in Columbia, and in various venues in Greenville. She produced a collection of 14 watercolor and ink paintings of downtown Anderson buildings that were used in an Anderson Heritage Society downtown tour brochure. Those paintings and several other examples of her work can be seen throughout the Bleckley Inn in Anderson. She has been juried into shows not only in Anderson and Belton but also ArtFields in Lake City and The State Fair in Columbia. She was awarded a third place at the State Fair for Professional Watercolor in 2015. 

Diann could be described as a utility player on the Church Street team. She served wherever and whenever needed. She brought her knowledge of the art world and the Anderson community to enrich the project and help steer concepts to best portray the story. When tasked with the graphic design for the storybox tops, she felt a void of elements and created original watercolor paintings of Church Street to fill the gap. Those watercolors also graced the unveiling event invitation and the program cover becoming a new symbol of Church Street.

Her work is in private collections in both homes and businesses from South Carolina to California. She is a past president of the Anderson Artist Guild; past Secretary of the South Carolina Watermedia Society; past President, Vice President and Secretary of the Anderson Arts Center; and was named the Anderson Arts Center Volunteer of the Year in 2013. She is a partner in Bay3 Artisan Gallery, a co-operative gallery of local artists located in the Anderson Arts Center.