Gillian Ayres was born on 3rd February 1930, in Barnes, London. She displayed an early passion for art, leading her to study at the Camberwell School of Art in London from 1946 to 1950. Influenced by European avant-garde movements and Abstract Expressionism, Ayres developed a unique approach to painting that would define her career.
In the 1950s, Ayres emerged as a pioneering abstract artist in Britain, at a time when figurative art was dominant. She became associated with the St Ives group, creating vibrant, large-scale canvases that emphasized color, texture, and spontaneity. Her work evolved over the decades, moving from oil to acrylic paints in the 1970s and then back to oils, marked by a distinctive use of bold colors and organic forms.
Ayres also made significant contributions as an educator, teaching at institutions like Bath Academy of Art and Winchester School of Art, where she influenced a new generation of artists. Her dedication to abstraction and experimentation has left a lasting impact on the British art scene.
Gillian Ayres was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1989 and was appointed OBE in 1991. She spent her later years in North Devon, continuing to paint until her passing on 11th April 2018, at age 88. Ayres is remembered as one of Britain's leading abstract painters, with works held in major collections worldwide.