School of Fine Art Sculpture & Environmental Art

Peter Gillies

Monochrome Photograph of Peter Gillies

Artist Statement

My art practice is built on two intertwined elements that inform and support one another. At the core is my studio Department A, which I founded in 2017 and which now houses 20 artists. Leading this space has become central to my motivation as an artist. I also cultivate a garden, which gives me purpose and feeds my creative activities. Building and adapting the space, and finding innovative solutions to practical challenges, feeds and cultivates a fluid artistic practice.

Material preparation is as important to me as the final use of that material. I find a greater value to a painting comes from my connection to the raw materials. Cutting sheet material or priming surfaces is an integral part of the creative process, with the painting already taking shape in the preparation stage. During the pandemic, I became more mindful of the environmental impact of my practice, repurposing offcuts into useable surfaces. This approach seeks to tackle my environmental responsibility but also helps me feel more connected to the resulting art.

My work explores the distance between my lived existence and my ideal state, where I am closer to nature. Forests, and being in the forest, are recurring themes in practice. I use self-made rolls of painted tape to create multiple collections that depict exploratory moments and arrive at composition through slow, explorative actions.

The theme of disconnection is also reflected in my sculptural papered works. The stones I collect have unique characteristics that make them special, and their geological history dates back millions of years. Using Shoji screen paper, which has a rich tradition in Japanese architecture, I create delicate and transformative pieces that invite the viewer to slow down and contemplate. The paper’s light-filtering qualities paired with natural stones create a new perspective on these objects and bring out their individuality.

Overall, my work seeks to honor tradition while exploring new possibilities, with an emphasis on mindful material use and a connection to nature.

 

Contact
gilliesglass@gmail.com
P.Gillies1@student.gsa.ac.uk
Official Website
Instagram
Twitter
Works
001
002
003
005
006
007
008
009
010
XX
XIII
XII
North By Night
Forest Collection – 2020/22
Hill 22
Hill 13
Monochrome Photograph of Peter Gillies
Photograph of Degree Show installation by Peter Gillies

001

001 – 21.8 x 21.8 x 4.5 cm (8.5 x 8.5 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

001

For Sale: Price On Request

002

002 – 21.8 x 21.8 x 4.5 cm (8.5 x 8.5 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

002

For Sale: Price On Request

003

003 – 21.8 x 21.8 x 4.5 cm (8.5 x 8.5 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sidesaut

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

Painting of a autumnal forest.

003

For Sale: Price On Request

005

005 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

005

For Sale: Price On Request

006

006 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

006

For Sale: Price On Request

007

007 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

007

For Sale: Price On Request

008

008 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

008

For Sale: Price On Request

009

009 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

009

For Sale: Price On Request

010

010 – 30 x 30 x 4 cm (12 x 12 Inch)

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2023 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

painting of trees

010

For Sale: Price On Request

XX

Golden Forest XX

(Tryptic) Three independent panels each measuring – 5.5 x 18 x 18 cm

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2022 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

Golden Forest XX

For Sale: Price On Request

XIII

Golden Forest XIII (2022)

5.5 x 18 x 18cm

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2022 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

XIII

For Sale:

XII

Golden Forest XII (2022)

5.5 x 18 x 18cm

Artist-Made Surface – Plywood Sides / Board Face

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed, Layered Acrylic Inks

Trees – Collage Artist-Made Painted Tape Roll (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

Matt Black Sides

2022 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

XII

For Sale:

North By Night

North By Night (2022)

Framed Size: 33 x 64 cm

Surface – Board

Base – GAC 100 SID Sealant, 4x Primed

Collage – Torn Paper (Acrylic Inks, Paint, Spraypaint)

Finish – Clear Coat Resin

2022 Signed & Dated On Reverse.

North By Night

Forest Collection – 2020/22

Hill 22

Hill 22 (2021)
顔彩 Japanese Gansai Watercolour
On Board / Resin Finish
7×7 inches Framed
Titled + Signed on the reverse.

Hill 22

For Sale:

Hill 13

Hill 13 (2020)
顔彩 Japanese Gansai Water Colour And Resin Finish
On Board & Framed
7×7 inches Framed
Hand Painted & Signed on the reverse.

Hill 13

For Sale: