Robert Gillmor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Gillmor (born Reading, Berkshire, 1936) is an ornithologist, artist, illustrator, author and editor, from England.

He was educated at Leighton Park School, Reading; the School of Fine Art and Reading University.

He is a founder member of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) and has been its secretary, chairman and president. He has contributed to over 100 books.

Gillmor was 16 when his illustrations were first published, in the monthly magazine British Birds. When he was a student in the art department of Reading University, he illustrated his first book, A Study of Blackbirds. Gillmor taught art and craft at his old school for six years, Leighton Park in Reading before commencing a freelance career as a wildlife artist in 1965. His output has been enormous and in a variety of forms, line drawing watercolour, lino-cuts and silk screen. Since his first book in 1958, his work has since appeared in over 100 books. Moving to Norfolk in 1998 has proved an inspiring influence on his work. He also has resumed making lino-cuts. He is also a keen ornithologist, and has served on council for all three of the national organisations, RSPB, British Ornithologists' Union and the British Trust for Ornithology. After helping to found the SWLA in the early 1960s, Robert served as its Secretary and Chairman for many years. He was also elected President in 1984 and served for two five year periods, he is now currently a Vice-President of the Society. As well as working to promote current work, Robert has done much to promote work of past artists, including Charles Tunnicliffe, (editing three books) and his grandfather, Allen Seaby, who instilled in him a love of printmaking.