New In: Gill Watkiss

Born in 1938, Gill Watkiss moved down to Cornwall in the 50s with her late husband, artist Reg Watkiss, living predominantly in West Penwith. They lived in Mousehole. Newlyn, and Zennor, before moving to a house at Cape Cornwall, St Just in 1969. This move was a key turning point for Gill's artistic career, and she continued to paint the inhabitants and surroundings of the market town of St Just for the next eight years, capturing the drama of daily life. Watkiss’ work was greatly influenced and inspired by the Cornish cottages and wind-swept streets of the local community there.

The figures in her paintings can be interpreted as humorous by some although others can see a more haunting side to them. It was at this point that Gill gained a lot more attention as an artist, and her work began to be exhibited widely. Today, her paintings can be found in private collections from West Penwith, throughout Britain, Europe and further afield. She is unquestionably one of the most influential figurative/landscape artists to work in Cornwall in the last fifty years.

Gill Watkiss has such a distinctive style and her work is instantly identifiable and very highly sought after. We are lucky enough to have recently acquired two of her pieces that perfectly encapsulate the themes and atmosphere of her recognisable style: ’Summer Evening, Cape Cornwall’ and ‘Sunday Walk’.

Click here to view our available work by Gill Watkiss