Gill WATKISS

1938—

Gill and her late husband, the painter and photographer Reg WATKISS, came to settle in West Cornwall at the end of the 1950s. From a first lodging at Mousehole, they lived in various locations around the district including Zennor, St Just, and latterly Newlyn.

Tutored at the Walthamstow School of Art, and taught by Edward Middleditch of the 'kitchen sink' group of artists, Gill has gone on to paint the people and places around herself, battling the ever present weather, wind and rain, in the ordinary round of their daily lives in the villages and lanes of Cornwall. Good examples are chosen by Cross (2002) to illustrate how she describes her life and intentions as an artist. Titles such as Watching the Storm, Porthleven (1997) and The Bathers, Perranuthnoe Beach (1993) show her evocative figures (real people) against the recognisable backdrops of the mining, fishing and farming communities in which they live.

Her work has been exhibited at the Rainyday Gallery in Penzance.

details

Gill WATKISS

gender:

female

media:

Painter in acrylics and oils

references:

Brittain, Sarah and Cook, Simon (2001) Behind the Canvas, 40 Artists working in West Cornwall;

Cross (2002) Catching the Wave pp80-3 (ill & photo likeness);

Hardie (1995) 100 Years in Newlyn/Diary;

Hoyle, H (Feb 2012 Women Artists in Cornwall www.cornishmuse.blogspot.com) 'Grace Gardner - a life in abstraction';

W H Lane Sales Cat Sept 2010 illus;

memberships:

NSA;

exhibitions:

1982: Solo exhibition, NAG;

1987: Six solo exhibitions by NSA members;

1989: Part II, A contemporary view, in 'A Century of Art in Cornwall 1889-1989' (Centenary of Cornwall County Council);

1990: Solo: A Retrospective, NAG;

Great Atlantic Map Works, St Just;

works and access:

Works include: Walking the coast road (2008); Titles as above illus in Cross (2002).

misc further info: