Robert Gillmor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Gillmor
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Gillmor in March 2010, at Nature in Art, in front of a linocut of his cover art for Birds New to Norfolk, depicting a red-breasted nuthatch
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| Born | 6 July 1936 |
| Died | 8 May 2022 (aged 85) |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Artist and illustrator |
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Notable work
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New Naturalist book jackets since 1985. |
| Awards | RSPB Medal |
Robert Allen Fitzwilliam Gillmor (born July 6, 1936 – died May 8, 2022) was a famous British artist and illustrator. He was also an ornithologist, which means he studied birds. Robert Gillmor was a co-founder of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA). He held many important roles there, like secretary, chairman, and president. He helped create art for over 100 books and won many awards for his work. He was even awarded the MBE, a special honor from the King or Queen.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Gillmor was born in Reading, England. He went to Leighton Park School, Reading and later studied art at Reading University. He was very talented from a young age. His drawings were first published when he was just 16 years old. This happened in a magazine called British Birds.
While he was still a student, he illustrated his first book. It was called A Study of Blackbirds. After university, Robert taught art at his old school for six years. Then, in 1965, he became a full-time wildlife artist.
Robert loved birds from a young age. When he was 13, he became the first junior member of the Reading Ornithological Club. He drew the covers for their yearly reports starting in 1950. Later, he became the club's life president.
Amazing Career as an Artist
Robert Gillmor created a huge amount of art. He used many different styles, like line drawings, watercolors, lino-cuts, and silk screen prints. After his first book in 1958, his art appeared in more than 100 other books.
In 1998, he moved to a place called Cley next the Sea in Norfolk. This new home really inspired his art. He started making lino-cuts again. Robert was also a very active ornithologist. He served on the councils of three big bird organizations in the UK: the RSPB, the British Ornithologists' Union, and the British Trust for Ornithology. He even designed the first version of the RSPB's well-known Avocet bird logo.
Working with the SWLA
Robert Gillmor helped start the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) in the early 1960s. He worked with another artist named Eric Ennion. Robert was very dedicated to the SWLA. He served as its secretary and chairman for many years. He was also elected president twice, each time for five years. He also became a vice-president of the society.
Besides promoting new wildlife art, Robert also worked to share the art of past artists. He edited three books about Charles Tunnicliffe. He also promoted the work of his grandfather, Professor Allen W. Seaby. His grandfather was the one who first taught him to love printmaking.
Later Life and Achievements
In 2011, Robert Gillmor created lino-cuts for four sets of postage stamps for Royal Mail. He made three more sets of stamps in 2012. He also designed the Dilys Breese Medal for the British Trust for Ornithology. This medal is given to people who do great work in ornithology.
A special exhibition of Robert's art was held at Reading Museum. It ran from October 2011 to April 2012.
In 2015, Robert was given the MBE award. This was "for services to Wildlife Art," meaning for his great contributions to art about nature. He also received other important awards, like the RSPB Medal in 2001 and the Union Medal of the British Ornithological Union in 1997.
Robert Gillmor passed away on May 8, 2022, when he was 85 years old. He is remembered for his amazing art and his love for birds. He is survived by his wife, Susan, who is also an artist, and their children, Emily and Thomas. Emily is also a wildlife artist.
Works
As Art Editor
- The Birds of the Western Palaearctic, nine volumes, 1977–1994
- Birds of Berkshire, 1996
As Illustrator
- A Study of Blackbirds – This was Robert's first book, which he illustrated while he was still a student.
- The dust jackets (book covers) of every book in the New Naturalist series since 1985.
