Harold Gillies Art

Harold Gillies recognised early on in his career that the medium of art gave him the ability to both record details of the novel surgical reconstructions he undertook whilst educating others in their use. The Collection possesses several Gillies works, displayed here.

Gillies had in fact been a watercolour artist since his early days in New Zealand. But it was during 1933 that he decided to take up painting as a hobby again having become bedridden for several weeks with phlebitis in his right leg. He engaged a tutor, Bernard Adams, a highly experienced and well-known artist. Perhaps influenced by his use of scalpels and other instruments, he now favoured applying oils with the palette knife. It was clear early on that he preferred landscape subjects. “The human face takes a lot of time at classes”. His efforts at depicting people and animals even came in for early ridicule from his children. Gillies didn’t take particularly well to critical comment or helpful suggestions, but vowed never to paint an animal again. Over time, he acknowledged that his surgical skills were enhanced by a new appreciation of colour and form.

Described as an “an able amateur”, Gillies took any opportunity to paint, even on his working trips abroad, notably to India. It was not long before his works would be exhibited in London, first at the Suffolk galleries in Pall Mall. Then, in 1959 Foyles’ Art Gallery gave him a one-man exhibition.  Perhaps more influenced by his fame than talent, he nevertheless sold 30 works, whilst turning down an offer from the philanthropist J.Paul Getty for another. Another of his works of a Norwegian Fjord is owned by our Patron, the Princess Royal. were hung around the wards at Rooksdown House during the Second World War and he also became a founding member, and second president of the Medical Art Society.