James Gillick

James Gillick
Born	1972 Norfolk
Nationality	British
Known for	Figurative Oil Painting, Drawing, Church re-ordering
Website	http://www.gillick-artist.com

James Gillick (born 1972, Norfolk) is an artist working in the figurative tradition. He works from his studio in Louth, Lincolnshire. He paints still-lifes, including game paintings, portraits, horse paintings, as well as church (building) re-ordering and gilding.

Gillick gained a degree in Landscape Architecture from Cheltenham and Gloucester College in 1993. He is the son of social critic Victoria Gillick and theatre set designer Gordon Gillick. James has an identical twin, the sculptor Theodore Gillick. James is cousin to 2002 Turner prize nominee Liam Gillick, and his great uncle and aunt were the sculptor Ernest Gillick & medallionist Mary Gillick.

Using techniques that date back to the 17th century, Gillick handcrafts all the materials he uses within his studio; from the oil paints, waxes and glues, to the varnishes, canvases and stretchers. He uses a limited palette of six colours plus black & white, having prepared the oils from ground pigments.

In 1998 he won a commission to paint the Rt. Hon Baroness Thatcher. The three quarter length portrait was commissioned by the University of Buckingham to commemorate her six years as the chancellor of Britain’s only private university. Baroness Thatcher was, ‘absolutely delighted’ with her portrait and commented, ‘Can I thank the artist for doing the impossible – a kind portrait of me in a way I would like to be remembered.’ 2005 saw the completion of a portrait of Pope John Paul II commissioned by The Bishop of Nottingham, England, the Rt Rev. Malcolm McMahon, O.P. The portrait now hangs in the Lady Chapel at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham and an identical copy tours the country’s parishes on request. Further commissions include the Most Rev. M. Couve de Murville, Archbishop of Birmingham in 1999.

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