Hello from Bristol, UK.
I use traditional methods, with a solid foundation in observational drawing and painting. A contemporary realist, my work addresses social conditioning. Formerly an IT consultant, I was a semi-finalist on the popular TV show Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist Of The Year 2023’, and a TEDx speaker "Body Image Through The Eyes Of An Artist"
Bio
Gail Reid (she/her)
1990 - 2006:
A career in IT consultancy enabled me to observe, travel, study, and develop my art practice on my own terms. Working at director level for CGI my roles included software architecture design, development, implementation, and project management.
2006-present:
As a parent I have first hand involvement with the interconnected technology and social issues facing my 3 “Gen Z” children. This informs my art practice across the board - in particular, issues around body image, appearance, gender, and practically (video/livestreaming/social media).
I balance self-directed study with workshops from leading contemporary artists (see Education section below).
I sell work direct from this website, group and solo exhibitions, commissions, conferences, and event portrait sketching.
Comfortable talking in public and working in front of cameras, I delivered a TEDx talk, and was a semi-finalist on the popular TV show Sky Arts “Portrait Artist Of The Year 2023”.
See this page for latest work and plans.
In addition to personal work, I enjoy working with clients directly on interesting and adventurous projects.
A typical day at the office
Artist's 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 blog, 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.
This collaboration with Cheryl Hardy used art to explore and help with the physical and emotional trauma of Cheryl’s cancer treatment.
“Breast cancer relentlessly stripped away everything that I deemed as feminine and beautiful about my body and appearance… I was bruised, broken and in pain but the universe introduced me to the very talented Gail at exactly the right moment…”
Exhibitions:
2025
Feb - Open Studio
June - Society of Women Artists annual open exhibition (Mall Galleries)
2024
Feb - Worshipful Company of World Traders IWD24 at Goodenough College, London - exhibitor and panellist
April - Between the lines Opening exhibition of represented artists at Art Gallery & Studio by Aga Kubish
May - Artist & collector event - Woodend Gallery, Scarborough
June - Appearance Matters 10th annual conference - commissioned portrait of conference speaker, and exhibition artist
August - Huw Richards Evans Gallery (group show)
September - A Personal Reflection On The Male Gaze - talk, slideshow, and related life drawing session by Gail Reid & Clare Creed
October - Solo show at Art Gallery & Studio by Aga Kubish
October - Society of Wildlife Artists “The Natural Eye” 2024 annual open exhibition
October - “Port & talk” entitled ‘Navigating Agency, Exposure, and Influence’ for new intake of arts & humanities postgraduate students at Goodenough College
October - Centre for Appearance Research Podcast
2023
TEDx Bristol speaker on Body Image through the eyes of an artist
Body Dysmorphia Disorder Foundation 10th Anniversary Conference (figure drawings & paintings)
Society of WildLife Artists annual open exhibition (3 pieces)
Semi-finalist on Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year - (painting Jay Rayner and Emma Bunton ‘Baby Spice’)
Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize ‘distinguished entries’ online exhibition
Jackson’s Painting Prize longlist
2022
Hanging out on The Mall Galleries wall
Group Winter Group show “Diversity” at Heart Of The Tribe gallery
2021
Solo supply, rotation, and sales of art in country pub and cafe The George Inn (Abbot’s Leigh) 2021-present
Duo show “Get Real” at Heart Of The Tribe gallery
2020
Group Inaugural exhibition at Heart Of The Tribe gallery
Solo supply, rotation, and sales of art in fine dining Greens Restaurant 2018-2020
2019
Group at Academie de la Grande Chaumiere (Paris)
2017
Solo “Raw Observations” - at Gallery 76, Dubai International Art Center Click here to download catalogue
2016 and earlier
Group Made In Tashkeel, Dubai Click here for press article
Solo stand at Dubai Jazzfest
Regular stand holder at ARTE (Artisans of the Emirates) Dubai 2015, 2016
Bristol Southmead Hospital (Brunel Building atrium inaugural exhibition) 2014
West Bristol Art Trail 2011, 2012
Spike Print Studio annual members’ exhibition 2012
Education
Toby Wiggins RP - “Portraiture - personal intent and expression” (2024)
Sophie Howard - “Observation to abstraction. Sculpting the figure” (2023)
Jenny Aitken ARSMA - online painting course (2023)
Alan McGowan - “Human anatomy for the artist” (2021), and “Painting from the figure” (2018)
Sarah Sedwick - “Three step still life” (2021)
Paris Academie de la Grande Chaumiere (2019) - intensive life drawing (Laurent Cattaneo et al)
Bristol Lara Atelier 2018 - sight-size drawing from the figure
Belfast Academy of Realist Art 2018 - old master oil painting method (Michael John Angel of Angel Academy of Florence)
UWE 1997-1998 Postgraduate diploma in Printmaking
Bristol University 1989 - BSc Maths
I have enjoyed association with several collectives, particularly Spike Printmakers (UK), Tashkeel (Dubai) and the international Urban Sketchers organisation.