Gideon Summerfield


ABOUT

2025 is shaping up to be a super busy year.  Some of my work will be exhibited at two shows. In January, at the Romanian Cultural Institute, following the completion of a series of landscapes last June. In March I will be returning to beautiful Guernsey for a special show, linked to the 250th Birthday of JMW Turner. I visited the Channel Island last May and worked hard to capture the stunning coastline and special light.

Later in the year, I hope to be attending the opening of a hotel in Morzine, France, where I was commissioned to complete a series of portraits of local people. I am also really looking forward to returning to the beautiful Hebrides, where a businessman has commissioned a number of landscapes and one portrait.


CAREER BACKGROUND

2023-2024 marked a very special time in my career. I was commissioned by HM the King to produce some images of the Procession on the day of the Coronation, on May 6th 2023. These paintings have now become part of The Royal Collection and were viewed by HM the King, in September 2024. I was also commissioned for a second time by Hauser & Wirth, to produce a second series of portraits of locals living in Braemar, in Aberdeenshire.

2020-22 was a busy period inspite of the global pandemic. I continued to paint and draw, both in the UK and overseas, including a special time in Norway. I also discovered I had an interest in garden design and am inspired by the amazing Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf.

In 2019 I embarked on a project to draw D-Day veterans to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. In June I visited Normandy to meet veterans from many countries including the UK, America and Canada. The Royal British Legion kindly hosted an exhibition of my portraits and I was thrilled these were viewed by HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.

In 2018 I was fortunate to be commissioned by Hauser & Wirth to create a series of portraits of local people living in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. These portraits can been seen under the tab Characters of Braemar and are on display at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar.

  • In 2017, I completed a challenging postgraduate 'Drawing Year' in London, based at The Royal Drawing School. I feel very honoured to have attended such a prestigious school and remain in contact with a number of peers and also the talented and very experienced staff.

    Prior to this I enjoyed a 3 year degree in Illustration at Cardiff School of Art and Design. I was thrilled to be awarded a 1st and am indebted to the teaching staff.

    During my time in Cardiff, I progressed a number of personal projects. In 2016 I focussed on the experiences of refugees and created a project called 'Love the Stranger as Yourself.'

    In 2015 I completed 'Sketch A Day Africa' – which involved drawing 365 African newsmakers from January 1st to December 31st 2015. This was incredibly challenging and also a wonderful way to learn more about Africa and to feature some extraordinary people. Previously, Africa was barely on my radar and in November 2015 I had a memorable experience visiting Senegal and Gambia.