Biography
Gigi grew up with a mix of cultural influences. Of Scottish parents, she was born abroad and lived in a variety of countries as a child due to her parents' work. She settled in Wales, UK after graduating from UCW Aberystwyth, with a B.A. Hons in Visual Art (specialising in Painting & Theatre Design), then went on to qualify as a teacher.
Before painting full-time in 2010, Gigi worked as a secondary school Art & Design teacher, freelance theatre designer, art director and workshop leader. Although her practice is mainly studio-based, she still loves to collaborate with other creatives on a variety of projects (often including theatre, film and music). She is particularly keen on collaborative projects that encourage community engagement in the Arts, and when the pandemic disrupted the delivery of in-person workshops, she started delivering them online.
She exhibits regularly in a variety of solo and group exhibitions and is represented by the Ardent Gallery in Brecon. Her work is in private collections both in the UK and abroad and her portraits of eminent musicians Mervyn Burtch and Owain Arwel Hughes are part of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama's permanent collection.
Exhibitions
Workshops
Set/Costume Design/Art Direction
2017- 2021
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Recrock 'My Creative Brain' online course
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'Summer of Fun' Vale of Glamorgan
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Lead Creative Schools (Arts Council Wales) projects in Torfaen, Newport and Caerphilly
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Recrock
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'Art & Artefact', Rhondda Heritage Park
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Romani Arts & Culture
Set/Costume Design/Art Direction
2015 - 2020
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Madi live launch and music videos 'Disarray', 'Intimate', 'Dirty Word', 'Big Heart', 'Under Pressure'
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Urdd Eisteddfod 'Chwarae Cuddio', Blackwood Miners' Institute
Set/Costume/Art Direction
2021
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Judith Beecher - Portraits of Artists, St Elvan’s Church, Aberdare (TBC)
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WAA Group Show, ‘Inside Out’ Llanover Hall, Cardiff (1st November - 9th December)
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Y Galeri, Caerphilly - Open Art Show (runner up prize)
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Ardent Gallery Brecon
2020
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Arts Central Barry, WAA - International Women's Day Exhibition
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Ardent Gallery Brecon, Solo ‘Showcase’
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Coed Hills, Cowbridge - Artist residency
2019
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Penarth Art Fair
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Ardent Gallery Brecon
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Arts Central Barry - WAA Group Show
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Creates Gallery Forest of Dean
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Creates Gallery Monmouth - Emerging Artist Group Show
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Y Galeri, Caerphilly Open Art Show
2018
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Craft Renaissance, Kemys Commander - Solo Show
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Penarth Pier Pavilion, Penarth - Solo Show
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Abergavenny Arts Market
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Y Galeri, Caerphilly - Open Art Show (prize-winner)
2017
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'Les Quatres Rivières', Argentat, France - Solo Show
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Andrew Lamont Gallery Brecon - Solo Show
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Buccaneer Gallery, Cardiff - ‘Landscape 5’ - group show
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Y Galeri, Caerphilly - Open Art Show
2016
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Art Central, Barry - 10th Anniversary group show
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Workers Gallery Ynyshir, 'Alone in the Universe' group show
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Caerphilly Creatives Art Week, resident artist, Parc Penallta and group exhibition
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Light, Space & Time "Landscapes" exhibition - prize winner
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Womens' Art Association Exhibition, Art Central, Barry
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Womens' Art Association Exhibition, Llanover Hall, Cardiff
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Y Galeri, Caerphilly - Open Art Exhibition - prize winner
2015
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Boundary Art Gallery, Cardiff Bay,
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Crickhowell Open Art Exhibition,
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Penarth Pavilion Open Art Exhibition,
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Blackwood Miners’ Institute, solo show,
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Art Central, Barry Women’s Art Association,
2012 - 2013
‘Common Sense’
With the support of Arts Council Wales, Gigi designed and project-managed a multi-media exhibition of her paintings, collaborating with eminent composer Mervyn Burtch and poets Grahame Davies and Tony Curtis that toured for a year to the following venues across South Wales:-
Pierhead Futures Gallery, Cardiff, The Senedd, Cardiff, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Foyer and Linbury Gallery, Art Central, Barry, Wales Millenium Centre, Cyfarthfa Art Museum & Gallery, Merthyr Tydfil, Hanbury Chapel Bargoed, Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Ty Penallta, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly Castle ‘The Big Cheese’
More information can still be found on www.commonsensewales.co.uk
Awards
2021 - Y Galeri Open - runner up
2018 - Y Galeri Open - prize-winner
2016 - Light Space & Time ‘Landscape’ - Special Recognition
2016 - Y Galeri Open - Judges' commendation
2013 - Light Space & Time - ‘Landscape’ - Winner
2013 - Rhondda Heritage Open - Highly Commended
2011 - Arts Council Wales - Individual award for ‘Common Sense’ project
1980 - UCW Aberystwyth - Sir Ben Bowen Thomas Prize for Painting