Gill Bustamante

When I was 3, I was given a pack of felt pens which I thought were absolute magic. I began drawing on walls, books, furniture and anything else that would let me (my brothers, my rabbit etc).

When I was 8 we got our first TV and I got to see my first artist – Rolf Harris. He painted murals on large screens and kept you guessing as to what he was painting right until the end. I thought he was magic too and this is pretty much what confirmed my already formed intention to be an artist. Also as a child, my dad gave me an animal encyclopaedia and some books on horses. I used to copy the pictures in these books almost daily and this is where I learnt to draw.

Like all little girls I loved ponies. Unfortunately I was very allergic to them so I had to settle for looking at them and painting them as a substitute for touching them. My fascination for these beautiful animals is still very evident today.

In order to pursue a career as an artist I did a foundation course at Chelsea and then a degree course at Brighton where I graduated in 1983 with a fine art degree in sculpture. I found college great fun and very educational about life, people and alcohol abuse but didn’t learn much about art itself. I did have some interesting tutors – such as Anthony Gormley, who is famous for the ‘Angel of the North’ sculpture, but I learnt most of what I wanted to know about from the college technician, who kindly taught me how to weld and make canvas frames.

After graduating, I hired a studio space on Brighton seafront where I began producing fibre glass sculptures as commissioned by an architect who designed interiors for clubs and hotels. I was even commissioned by the Dean of the college to make two life size sculptures of horses.

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. I soon became an expert in painting dogs and horses in the classical style. I also took on mural painting commissions and wrote and illustrated a few children's books. I have painted murals in children’s bedrooms, bathrooms, a gypsy caravan and even in a stud farm stable.

A little later, I began teaching for adult education centres in the area and also took on commission based work for a commercial art studio in Henfield. The extra income this work generated enabled me to not actually die of starvation whilst I built up a portfolio of fine art and began making a name for myself in Sussex. I do this by regularly placing my paintings or prints in restaurants, hotel rooms, galleries and anywhere else their will be seen and can be sold from. I also try to exhibit at least 3 times a year in various galleries around the UK and sometimes abroad.

Whether I ever become rich from art remains to be seen but regardless of this, I love to paint. I love getting blobs of it in my ears, on my clothes and on the floor. I love smelling of turpentine and wearing jeans that are held together with dried paint and I love knowing how to hold a brush and being able to use it!