My story
Hi, I'm Gill - an oil painter who specialises in animal portraits.
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Before art became my full-time life, I'd done everything from from hairdressing to Civil Servant, and even a ski season as a chalet host. I then spent 20+ years in property, ending up in corporate marketing. All the time sketching and painting quietly in the background - it's how I've always found my calm.
Like many people, Covid shifted things for me. I threw myself into painting, took part in the Sky Arts online portrait challenges, built up my skills and my confidence. It became clear that art belonged at the forefront of my life, not simply as a hobby in the background. Committing fully felt less like a leap and more like coming home.​​​​​​
My Art
​Honestly, I cant think of anything better than studying animals every day and creating pieces that pet owners will treasure for years to come. I work primarily in oils. I love their richness, depth, and slow drying time, which lets me rework and blend to build something with real life in it. I also work in charcoal and pencil - depending on the subject.
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My aim isn't photo-realism. I want to capture likeness, yes, but more importantly the personality that makes your animal them — ideally that look or expression that only you would notice.​
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Working with me
​​​​​​Commissioning a portrait is a personal thing and I want the process to feel easy and enjoyable. We'll talk through your vision, and I'll guide you from there, with work-in-progress updates along the way. I won't consider a piece finished until you're truly happy with it.
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I'm a proud member of the Association of Animal Artists (AAA), and take the craft seriously - both in terms of the painting itself and in the care I put into every commission, from first conversation to finished piece.
Proud Member of the Association of Animal Artists (AAA)
Giving back
I also paint dogs who are currently at Clymping Dog Sanctuary awaiting their forever homes. I want to highlight their case and share their stories to help raise awareness and invite adoption.
All of these portraits will be available to purchase as fine art prints, with a percentage of profits donated to the sanctuary to help support their great work.
