Born 6th June 1939,
Gordon spent most of his early childhood on the Fife coast of
Scotland before moving south of the border to Reading in
Berkshire.
As a child his talent
came to the fore early on, winning several major art
competitions from the age of seven. After leaving school he
concentrated on figurative illustration, undergoing training
at Carlton Studios in London whilst studying life drawing and
painting at Reading University.
In his early 20s he
went freelance, illustrating for major magazines and
advertising agencies. Gradually he built up the commission
side of his work by painting portraits and exhibiting his work
until in the mid 70s he gave up illustration work altogether
to enable him to concentrate full-time on his paintings which
at that time were predominantly in oils. Success came quite
rapidly, showing at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions in
London and later at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water
Colours, painting mostly figurative subjects.
His paintings of
girls in natural surroundings soon became his trade mark and
the popularity of the watercolors in the early 80s together
with the success of his prints, limited editions and
silk-screens brought him the high profile that he has today.
He is published by Washington Green.
In 1995, his first
book "A Romance with Art" was published, with a forward by HRH
The Princess Royal, featuring a wide range of his oils and
watercolors.
Gordon lives and
works in his studio in Buckinghamshire which provides the
backdrop for many of his paintings. He exhibits worldwide and
has been featured painting live on a number of television
programs including the BBC2 arts series "Close-Up", Channel
5's "Open House" and Sky Sports at the PGA short course
championships.
He has been actively
involved in charitable work having supported various charities
including projects for the Save the Children Fund, painting a
portrait in front of a live audience for the BBC's "Children
in Need" appeal, and painting a portrait of Norman Wisdom on
the Black Watch Cruise Ship in aid of the R.N.L.I. He also
donated a painting of Golf at Brocket Hall which was auctioned
for the Bob Wilson Willow Tree Foundation.
In 1999 to celebrate
his 60th birthday, Gordon's second book "Drawn To Life" was
published featuring paintings from his exhibition at the
Halcyon Gallery in the ICC, Birmingham. In addition, he
received a prestigious award from the Fine Art Trade Guild who
voted him "Published Artist of the Year". He also had a
painting accepted into the Singer & Friedlander Sunday Times
Watercolour Competition which exhibited in London before
touring the country.
One of Gordon's most
recent projects is a set of three Limited Edition prints of
the dancer Darcey Bussell, signed by her, in aid of the
Alzheimer's Society.
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