“30 Enamel Portrait Miniatures” will run from 20th September – 2nd November in parallel with “Playing with Fire”- a major touring exhibition of Contemporary UK Enamel Thirty miniatures, kindly loaned by their owners, will be on show in the jewellery case to celebrate Gillie’s 30 years’ membership of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen. They represent about a million brushstrokes since each piece has been fired in the enamelling kiln at least a dozen times in the process of building up thin layers of glass paint to create a portrait likeness. All the contemporary and historical pieces have been included in a sixteen page colour catalogue which will be on sale in the Guild Shop for £5 (or direct from Gillie for £6 to include postage and packing).
Gillie came to live in South Devon in 1978 specifically to join The Guild and establish herself as an enameller. Her first “day job” was with the Dartington Hall Trust as advertising and publicity coordinator for their commercial companies, including the newly opened Cider Press Centre and the Tweed Mill where her future husband Peter was Managing Director.
At that time The Guild only held one exhibition a year during the Summer when members traditionally showed their best and most recent work. Kevics in Totnes was used as a venue and most members would pitch in to create the exhibition under the guidance of a chosen member, whilst the Selection Committee decided which pieces to include – not without annual controversy. There were very few craft galleries in the area and the lunch-time opening which attracted much attention, also provided a valuable social occasion for both members and friends.
Gillie's amazing work can also be viewed on her web site http://www.enamelportraitminiatures.co.uk/