Art, Painting Commissions & Prints from Sussex Artists

Artist: Gill Bustamante
(Forest Row, East Sussex)

Artist: Gill Bustamante
(Forest Row, East Sussex)

Messengers of the Gods Crow Painting by Gill Bustamante Sussex Artist

Messengers of the Gods

Oil painting of a 4 crows in an abstract winter forest. The crows fly in elegant formation against an abstract, art nouveau type background that looks like a winter forest at sunset or dusk. However, it has been deliberately blurred to make it look distant. The crows by comparison have been painted very sharply so that they are obviously near to the foreground

Art Medium: Oil
Image Size: Approx 40″ x 40″ x 1.5″
Price: £1,500 (free delivery in UK – contact me for delivery quote if not in UK)
Order shipped within 5 days. Email me once you have paid with your name, address and any delivery instructions.
Prints also available

Commissions Invited

Viewing on phone recommendation - Now not needed but keep as idea
When viewing on a phone, many paintings can be seen at their best size by turning the phone (to landscape for landscape images)

Contact The Artist

Gill Bustamante B.A.

Forest Row, East Sussex

Fine Artist and Art Tutor

Address: 49 Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5BY, England

Mobile: 07815 036 576

Phone: 01342 826 676

Please mention the Sussex Artists website

Email: artist@gillbustamante.com

Web: www.gillbustamante.com

About The Artist

As a child, I taught myself to draw and paint by copying animals and horses out of books on an almost daily basis. I was helped in formulating the purpose to be an artist by watching Rolf Harris on the TV (and no I don’t care what the press says about him – he is a brilliant artist and an inspirational teacher). In 1979 I did a foundation course at Chelsea and then a degree course at Brighton where I graduated in 1982 with a fine art degree in sculpture. I then worked in a studio on the seafront for a while making sculptures with an architect for clubs and hotels.

On moving to East Grinstead in the late 80's, I began painting for an art agent that specialised in animal, people and bespoke portraits and soon became skilled at painting dogs and horses in a classical style. I also took on mural painting commissions and wrote and illustrated a few children's books.

In the late 90's I began teaching art adult education courses for Central Sussex College as well as running my own art courses. I sell my paintings mostly in on-line galleries but also through galleries and exhibitions. I have exhibited at the Mall galleries in London, Chelsea open exhibition, local galleries such as Chequer Mead, East Grinstead, The Hawth Theatre, Sheffield Park, Lingfield, Brighton festival, Shoreham gallery and many others.

My goal is a) to paint a masterpiece one day b) help other people to get the thrill from their creating their own art that I get.

Video - Gill Introduces Her Art

The Video is best seen larger by rotating your phone to get maximum width.

My Motivation

My inspiration simply comes from painting things that I have actually seen – often from memory. I find that if I paint something I have seen - that it is what was imprinted on my memory that emerges on the canvas - but it will also be altered into a symmetry and pattern that pleases me. My six years studying art at college was well spent, learning to draw skilfully and learning about composition, colours, tones and shapes. I know my basics quite well and find that this is essential to the creation of most impressive pieces of art. I think that the best paintings in this world have ‘little souls’ woven into them by the artist and this is what makes people desire them (or not). This what I try to do. Sometimes I succeed well and sometimes I don’t, but it keeps me endlessly entertained.

Painting Demo Video - Watercolour Dog Portrait

A step by step portrait demonstration of a black dog being painted in watercolour by Sussex artist, Gill Bustamante.

The Video is best seen larger by rotating your phone to get maximum width.

Art Awards!

Like many artists I sometimes describe myself as an ‘award winning artist’ for PR reasons. It is true but I rarely mention what the awards were so in the interest of integrity, here are my awards:

a) When I was 4 and in a convent school I won the ‘best painting of an angel’ competition. I won a handkerchief and a plastic flower.

b) When I was 9 I came first in a local painting competition for painting a picture of my house. It was a surprise as I had chucked it away a few weeks earlier when I got cross with it – not knowing my Dad had found it in the bin and entered into the competition. I still have the photo that was in the local paper of me looking simultaneously stupid, pleased and disgusted as the Mayor gave me my prize. I won a £5 book token.

c) When I was 11. I became the proud owner of a Blue Peter badge which I won for painting an underwater scene in a competition in 1979. I won a plastic badge with a boat on it.

d) When I was 37. I won an award for best wildlife painting in an on-line competition where people voted for best painting. I never got my prize as the website went down a week later.

e) When I was 48. I won first prize in the Danehill Art Fair. I won £250 (yay – an actual prize!)

That was possibly the best my illustrious competition winning career is going to get but at least I can genuinely call myself ‘award winning’ – impressive eh?

Customer Recommendations

"Gill is a superb artist whose paintings exude life and emotions. She has done a superb job for us, I could never have hoped for better."
Dominique Cook – Director at Narconon

"I have had the pleasure of auctioning Gill's work at various fundraising events where she has donated works for charitable donations and the quality and detail of her work has always created gasps in the audience and has also helped the organisations I have worked for producing very rewarding bids which is a testament to her standards as an artist."
Mike Ricketts - Practice Manager at The Weight Loss Centre

"For Gill Bustamante each painting speaks more than a thousand words, each picture has a personality all of its own. It is like time has stood still at that particular point in time.
She is a brilliant artist and I have seen her art evolve over the last few years, she has captured seasons and nature with the upmost detail and her art is really reaching out to its intended audience."
Trish Parkinson - Director - Renewable Energy at Smart Green

"Gill's paintings are exquisite. The movement in her horses is exceptional and I love viewing her work. She has an uncanny ability to depict animals as if they are in motion right in front of you, they seem so alive. I would unhesitatingly recommend Gill as an animal portrait artist."
Liz Bailey – Published Author

"Gill is a fantastic and talented artist"
Julie Boyle, Owner at B Gallery

“Gill is a brilliant teacher. She is a great artist and her animal portraits are beautiful and full of life. She really captures the unique characteristics and personality of her model, whether they are horses or cats... I would love for her to make a portrait of my cat!"
Christine Sotiriou – French Teacher and Counsellor

"I have bought a number of Gill's paintings for myself and to give as presents over the years - I see them hanging in pride of place in several houses. Her portrait of my brother's dog is an incredible likeness and really captures the spirit of a much-loved family pet."
Andrea Grant-Webb - Owner, Broomfield Books Limited

"Magical images of animal portraits, colourful and delightful . . . a child's dream world . . ."
Stefania Priori - Designer & Sales Director at Gorgeous Bunch

"Gill's portraits are exceptionally alive and full of colour. Her animal portraits reflect real character and personality as well as being beautiful works in themselves."
Mike Garside - Owner of Good Reputations Marketing Consultancy

"Gill is a tremendously talented painter, and I have one of her pictures hanging in my house."
Malcolm Gellatly - Director at TMS Systems Ltd

"Gill does the best Animal Portraits I've ever seen. They are fantastic!"
Teresa Kane - Office Manager at The Bath Business