Simon Henwood (born, 31 March 1965, died 21 January 2024) was a British artist, author, film director, andmusic video director. Henwood first gained attention as a children's writer and later on for his paintings inspired by adolescence, as well as combining "darkness and hip together".^[1][2] He was best known for directingKanye West's "Love Lockdown" and being the creative force behindRihanna'sRated R album campaign. Henwood was in a relationship with Irish singer-songwriterRóisín Murphy.

Henwood was born inPortsmouth, England. In 1986, he received his Bachelor of Arts fromExeter College of Art and Design in Devon.^[3] Many of Henwood's paintings focus on the experiences and consequences of youth.^[1] His work has been showcased by London'sInstitute of Contemporary Arts and Asprey Jacques, Manhattan'senvoy enterprises, New York's Bronwyn Keenan Gallery, and Santa Monica's Richard Heller Gallery.^[1][3]

Henwood authored and illustrated a series of children's books that were published byFarrar, Straus and Giroux in the late 1980s and early 1990s, includingA Piece of Luck (1990) andThe Troubled Village (1991). In 1993, Henwood developed an "illustratedperiodical" namedPurr.^[1] That same year, Henwood also founded a record label which issued releases byIggy Pop andSonic Youth. He produced and directedAlice, a short film scored byBarry Adamson, and created a second magazine of the same name, which "chronicles how childhood is represented in art and the media".^[1] In 2001, Henwood created the animated series Johnny Pumpkin, which was in development with Sky One television in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Henwood is also known for directing music videos. He has worked with HSI London (previously known as Exposure Films) since 2004.^[4] Henwood has worked with a number of artists, such asApollo 440,Badly Drawn Boy,Delays,Devendra Banhart, andImogen Heap. He directedKanye West's "Love Lockdown" in 2008, which was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Hip-Hop Video, and Best Special Effects in a Video at the2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Pop singerRihanna enlisted Henwood as the creative director for 2009'sRated R. He designed the logo and conceived the brand and styling of the album, videos and TV spots. He also contributed to Rihanna's forthcoming tour, including the show's stage design, costumes and background visuals.^[5] Art publisher Rizzoli released a photo book documenting Henwood's work for the pop star in 2010, entitledRihanna: The Last Girl on Earth.^[5][6]

Henwood also painted the cover of his then-girlfriendRóisín Murphy's albumRuby Blue and its EPs and singles, in addition to directing the music videos for "If We're in Love", "Sow into You" and "Movie Star."

As author

• The Clock Shop (ISBN 978-0-374-31380-7, 1989), published byFarrar, Straus and Giroux^[7]
• A Piece of Luck (ISBN 978-0-374-35925-6, 1990), published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux^[8]
• The Troubled Village (ISBN 978-0-935008-10-4, 1991), published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux^[9]
• The Hidden Jungle (ISBN 978-0-374-33070-5, 1992), published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux^[10]

As illustrator

• The King Who Sneezed by Angela McAllister (ISBN 978-0-688-08327-4, 1988), published byWilliam Morrow and Company^[11]
• The View by Harry Yoaker (ISBN 978-0-416-16312-4, 1991), published by Methuen^[12]

• White Kitten (ISBN 978-1-902053-04-2, 2000), published by Arts & Commerce^[13]
• Kido (2005), published by Funny Bones Editions^[14]
• Rihanna (ISBN 978-0-8478-3510-2, 2010), published by Rizzoli

2002

• "You Were Right" –Badly Drawn Boy

2003

• "Dude Descending a Staircase" –Apollo 440

2005

• "If We're in Love" –Róisín Murphy
• "Sow into You" –Róisín Murphy
• "Heard Somebody Say" –Devendra Banhart

2006

• "Kelepçe" –Hande Yener
• "Valentine" –Delays
• "Hideaways" –Delays
• "Headlock" –Imogen Heap

2007

• "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" –Groove Armada featuringMutya Buena

2008

• "Love Lockdown" –Kanye West

• Simon Henwood at the Music Video Database

• English children's writers
• English graphic designers
• English illustrators
• English music video directors
• 20th-century English painters
• English male painters
• 21st-century English painters
• 21st-century English male artists
• Photographers from Hampshire
• Living people
• 1965 births
• Writers from Portsmouth
• 20th-century English male artists
• Mass media people from Portsmouth
• Artists from Portsmouth

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from July 2023
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Use dmy dates from July 2023