Robert Gillmor Retrospective at Reading

Internationally acclaimed wild life artist and bird expert Robert Gillmor returns to his native Reading for the first large scale retrospective of his work for 30 years.

The exhibition will include watercolours, line drawings and preparatory material from the one hundred plus books he has illustrated as well as his masterly lino cuts. It will have all the original lino cuts for his recent stamp commissions by the Royal Mail and for commissions as varied as humorous greetings cards and conservation posters - Lots for bird enthusiasts and art lovers alike.

Gillmor’s achievements to date are breathtaking and combine artistic skills with a passion for nature, particularly birds.

While in his early twenties Robert organised one of the first ever exhibitions of bird painters, at Reading Museum & Art Gallery. This led to the founding of the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1964 of which he has been president and remains a longstanding official. He is intimately linked with many bird welfare organisations and in 2001 was awarded the RSPB medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to bird conservation. He is highly regarded by ornithologists throughout the world for his illustrations in numerous books, especially those on bird behaviour.

He was 16 when his illustrations were first published in British Birds and a Fine Art student at Reading University when he illustrated his first complete book, ‘A Study of Blackbirds’ by David Snow. He continued to illustrate while a teacher at his old school, Leighton Park, Reading and, remarkably, was in such demand that he became a freelance wildlife artist aged only 28. During the past 60 years his output has been enormous. He has produced illustrations for over 100 books, 50 covers for the last 26 years worth of the
New Naturalist series, and contributions to many magazines and journals. He was the Art Editor of ‘The Birds of the Western Palaearctic’, published in nine volumes from 1977 - 1994 and he continues to exhibit and to promote the work of other wildlife artists.

Despite his international reputation and his move from Reading in 1998 to birder’s paradise Cley-on-the Sea on the north Norfolk coast, he maintains his links with his home town. He is an active member of the Berkshire Ornithological Club, previously Reading Ornithological Club, and has illustrated the covers of their annual reports since 1950. He was Art editor of Birds of Berkshire, 1996, as well as providing the cover and some of the illustrations. He is also a long standing member (and ex-President) of the Reading Guild of Artists.

A full programme of activities for adults and children will accompany the exhibition including ‘An evening with Robert Gillmor and friends’.

For more information on the exhibit go to http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk.