Search the Collection

Gillian Ayres

(1930-2018), Painter, mural artist and teacher

Sitter in 5 portraits
Painter, mural artist and teacher, Ayres turned to Abstraction after meeting Roger Hilton and seeing photographs of Jackson Pollock at work. She studied at Bath Academy of Art Art (1959-66), and was later Head of Painting at Winchester School of Art before resigning in 1981 to pursue painting full time. Elected ARA in 1982 and RA in 1991.

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Gillian Ayres

by Roger Mayne
modern bromide print from original negative, 1960
NPG P995

Gillian Ayres

by Roger Mayne
modern bromide print from original negative, 1960
NPG P996

The Situation Group

by Sylvia Sleigh
oil on linen, mounted on canvas, 1961
NPG 6817

Gillian Ayres

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1956
NPG x135226

Gillian Ayres

by Nicholas Sinclair
gelatin silver print, 1993
NPG x77007

Related People

Henry Mundy (husband)

Groups

Places

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Seizing an Instant: Photographs by Roger Mayne

Thematic collections

Group portraits

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Gillian Ayres