Simon Starling pursued his art education at Maidstone College of Art (1986–1987), Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham (1987–1990), and completed an MFA at the Glasgow School of Art in 1992. From 1993 to 1996, he was a committee member of Transmission Gallery in Glasgow. He currently resides and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.
His works often involve elaborate processes that repurpose everyday objects, highlighting the narratives embedded within materials and their cultural significance.