gail reid
Website: www.gailreidartist.com
Instagram: gailreidartist
Facebook: Gailreidartist
Other: youtube.com/Gailreidartist
Statement
I am interested in representing real life, drawn to how light falls on, shines through, and bounces off the world around us. Striving for a balance between the critical observation of surface, and constant reference to structural anatomy, I aim to elevate and demystify both my subject and my process.
My daily practice is observational drawing. Using pencil and oil, I describe still life, human, animal, rural, and urban landscape. Not working to a pristine finish, my work is relatable, figurative, and sometimes visceral, with expressive traces of process.
I write a Substack journal, and share livestream and edited video demonstrations on YouTube and Instagram. My YouTube channel has a large collection of demos and other material.
I believe that objectification, and its insidious consequence cosmetic 'enhancement', fuel our dissatisfaction with the perfectly imperfect human form. I would like to see more diverse representation of the body, and consider art as having a useful role in championing appreciation of all bodies. I have given a TEDx talk on this subject.
I make large narrative work addressing social justice issues, particularly reproductive labour and inequality.
Biography
A career in IT consultancy enabled me to observe, travel, study, and develop my art practice without commercial constraint or substantial instruction.
I learn from contemporary and historical artists, and by taking short workshops as and when necessary.
I have a maths degree and a post-graduate diploma in printmaking.
I spoke at TEDx Bristol on Body Image Through The Eyes Of An Artist, and was a semi-finalist on Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year 2023.
I occasionally speak/demo on panels/local art groups, and at conferences.
I occasionally do live event portraiture, independently and previously under the RPS umbrella.
I sell work direct from my website, via local galleries, off the easel (painting plein air), on commission, and via open calls. I have been selected in the past for the RPS, SWA, and SWLA open calls.
I was a finalist in the 2025 Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize, and won the 2026 Society of Wildlife Artists Natural Eye Bursary Award for my project Dungscape. This project will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in the SWLA annual exhibition.
In addition to personal work, I enjoy working with clients directly on interesting and adventurous projects.