Desperately seeking Simone in Phuket

PHUKET CITY: Where is Simone? An English artist who has been traveling to Thailand for holidays with her family for over 15 years is trying to contact ‘Simone’, a Soi Bangla ladyboy, to let her know that a painting of her was recently voted into the ‘Top 50 Favorite’ paintings on the world-famous Saatchi on-line art gallery.

Artist Lisa Andrews entered the life-sized, oil-on-canvas painting for the ‘Saatchi Showdown’. The painting received thousands of votes from across the globe and critical acclaim in a national UK newspaper.

“I thought it would be lovely for Simone to know that she is now famous, with admirers across the world,” said Lisa, a mother of two daughters from Surrey in England.

She met and photographed Simone on Soi Bangla in Patong in 2008.

“Our family has been on holiday to Thailand over 20 times. We love the country and the people, and I felt that Simone was a fantastic subject to paint, striking to look at and very beautiful. I hope that she is happy with the painting and would love her to have a copy.”

Do you know Simone, or are you Simone? If so please email Lisa, or contact her by telephone in England at 44-800-756-1281. See also her website, here.

— Gazette Reporters