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It was the dream signing for the owner of an unidentified Nottingham gallery - an exhibition including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would likewise attend to meet fans.

But the gallery's owner has revealed how her income and reputation were 'messed up' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she spent months negotiating the exhibition of a life time turned out not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.

Simone Simms has promoted the very first time about how she succumbed to the elaborate artificial intelligence (AI) rip-off which led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.

Ms Simms informed The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after offering ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art enthusiasts with the pledge of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, just to find she had actually been deceived.

Scammers used AI to create a persuading likeness of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.

Ms Simms remembered 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'screeched with excitement that he remained in my living-room speaking with me' before taking the bait and sending out the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping costs' for the art.

Her headache began when she contacted what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's legitimate Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would exhibit his paintings at her venue.

She then states she was contacted by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, consisting of a variety of voice notes going over the exhibit.

The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that fooled art gallery owner Simone Simms

Mrs Simms (imagined, left) fell victim to a fraud that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery

More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who scammers had actually deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii

A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages via Telegram with who she thought was the Bond star

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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's distinctive Irish accent discusses the forthcoming exhibition.

'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for not having the ability to establish a conference,' the voice says.

'I have actually been swamped recently. Please let your team understand that I truly appreciate the invitation to the art exhibition.

'I have high expectations it will be a substantial success.'

In a subsequent video call, larsaluarna.se Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen however the sound was off. Messages from the person on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological problem.

Two of Ms Simms's buddies were likewise in the video conference, one of two Ms Simms thought she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'moron'.

One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It looked like his authentic face. He said his son had set it up for forum.altaycoins.com him. He said the noise problem was on our end. It brought on for a while.'

Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida

After the fake event was booked, Mr Brosnan put out a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and greet'

The genuine Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'fulfill and greet' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan

Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wishes the actor would acknowledge her as a victim instead of a villain

Others have reported being contacted by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings

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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms booked and marketed her show, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibit featuring his art online and issued a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and greet'.

His attorneys sent her an instant cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she advertised the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.

A 'horrified' Ms Simms understood her mistake and tearfully remembered: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.

'Pierce hurt me by releasing the statement. He needs to have done more research study before he did since he would realise I was only a fan connecting however he villainised me which's where it began to fail.

'I wish he would me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to tell the public about what really occurred and set the tone.

'I do not hate him, because he is a victim too. People abused his picture. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never have actually established the exhibit or sold the tickets.'

A photo by Piers Brosnan portraying a green area on the coast

Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the event left her track record in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan

One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings portraying a female resting

As quickly as she understood she had been deceived, Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her credibility in tatters, with numerous still believing she had attempted to fraud them.

Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their preferred before asking for cash.

It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated woman was fooled into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster posturing as Brad Pitt and requested for money to money his immediate kidney cancer treatment.

Mr Brosnan has been approached for comment.

NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii