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John Gillies

Artworks & CollectionsBio

John was born in 1945. A Cantabrian by birth, John pursued a career in medicine, becoming Clinical Director of respiratory medicine for the Canterbury District Health Board, before retiring after open heart surgery in 2006 to become a full time artist and portrait painter. John's first Solo Exhibition was in 1977! He has won many awards over the decades.


John Gillies

John was born in 1945. A Cantabrian by birth, John pursued a career in medicine, becoming Clinical Director of respiratory medicine for the Canterbury District Health Board, before retiring after open heart surgery in 2006 to become a full time artist and portrait painter.

John and his wife, Jenny, live in Christchurch. They have a family of four adult children with an ever increasing number of grandchildren.

1957Learned figure drawing under sculptor, Tom Taylor.
1969-1970Combined services South Vietnam.
1971Graduated University of Otago Medical School.
1977First solo exhibition, Dunedin NZ.
1980Specialist physician, FRACP.
1992Highly commended, Telecom Art Award.
1998Creative excellence award, NZ Wearable Arts Award.
2003Clinical director, Canterbury District Health Board.
2005Section winner, Montana World of Wearable Arts Award
2007Full time artist and portrait painter.
2008Published “In my chair”, a collection of portraits of Cantabrians. Exhibition held at COCA gallery, Christchurch.
2009Judge, Zonta school leavers’ exhibition, Ashburton.
2012Invited tutor - palette knife painting masterclass, Brisbane.
2013Invited tutor – portrait painting, Ashburton Arts Society.
2013Judge Ashburton Arts Society Annual Exhibition.

Publications

2008Book: “In my chair”, a collection of portraits of 60 Cantabrians with introduction by Jon Gadsby and text by David McPhail.
2008–2012Articles on painting technique in: The Artist UK (1), The Australian Artist (2) and the Artists’ Palette (3).

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