Gillian Furlong was born in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1948. She studied at Epsom School of Art and Camberwell School of Art and Crafts. She was awarded the David Murray Landscape Prize by the Royal Academy in 1968 while still a student.
Gillian Furlong specialises in figurative art works. A fascination with light and atmosphere drives her to create images that are intimate and at the same time capture the sense of distance, atmosphere and place. Gillian's paintings have a thoughtful feel and gentleness about them which gives them great humility and a sense of timelessness.
From the mid-nineties, Gillian Furlong has been painting full time. She particulrly enjoys painting images of her daughters looking out of windows whilst on holiday in Greece, Mallorca & Italy. This series of paintings started in 1969 when Gillian painted her then 9 year old brother on holiday in Spain. She particulrly loves the fact that there's an interior with the back view of the subject looking out to the landscape beyond, often with the reflections of the landscape on the windows.
The great majority of Gillian Furlong's paintings are in oils. The inspiration for much of her work is found in the countryside of England, France and Italy where she spends time painting. Talking about her work she says "There is always mood in my paintings, never brooding or ominous but always gentle and thoughtful." Gillian Furlong also paints seascapes. In both landscape and seascapes, the composition is most important as is the light. She likes to capture what is there, rather than from her imagination.
Gillian Furlong has exhibited in many art galleries whilst bringing up four children with her husband the painter, Edward Dawson NEAC (1941 - 1999). She has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions since 1969. She has also exhibited at numerous commercial art galleries in London and throughout the UK.Artists who Furlong admires includes: Vermeer,John Singer Sargent, the Newlyn School and Danish Interior painters, such as Carl Holsoe and Peder Severin Kroyer.
