About
With an initial degree in 3D Design- Ceramics (Cardiff 1978), Gill set up her own business producing thrown domestic ware in porcelain. After 15 yrs of making and selling functional ware, and a return to education for an MA, her interests turned to sculptural ceramic work. This is when research into anthropomorphism as a visual language for figurative work began.
Gill then worked as a freelance model maker for the stop-motion animation industry for over 12 years, and maintained her own creative practice with regular exhibiting of her own character work. Since 1997, she also worked as an Associate Lecturer in Animation and Animation Theory with many universities in the UK
In 2017 Gill gained a PHD with a scholarship from Loughborough University. During the course of this research her focus moved away from character and figurative work to more abstracted imagery relating to ecological themes.
Contact me at: gillbliss4@gmail.com
CV:
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:
1975-78 Cardiff College of Art (now UWIC). B.A.Hons Ceramics.
1994-95 U.W.I.C. Masters Degree in Ceramics.
1998 Pontypridd College. Further and Adult Education Teaching Certificate
2011-17 PHD research into animal imagery and anthropomorphism in Animation with a studentship from Loughborough University, Supervisors: Paul Wells, Andrew Selby.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS:
Ceramic work:
Nov 2023 Black Swan Arts, Frome - solo exhibition of ‘Mud and Thread’ in the Round Tower. This was a residency awarded at the 2022 Black Swan Arts Open Exhibition.
April/June 2023 ‘Mud and Thread’ work at the Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition, The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.
Oct – Jan 2022-3 RWA, Bristol. Open Exhibition - sculptural work as ‘Mud and Thread’.
July/August 2022 Black Swan Arts, Frome. Open Exhibition - sculptural work as ‘Mud and Thread’.
May 2022 The Holburne Museum/The Andrew Brownsword Gallery, Bath. Seam Collective Residency, ‘A Visible Thread’ – sculptural work as ‘Mud and Thread’.
Sept/Oct 2021 Brewhouse Theatre Gallery, Taunton, SAW Exhibition ‘Community’ – sculptural work in progress as ‘Mud and Thread’.
Sept/Oct 2020; Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. ‘Somerset-Reacquainted’ Exhibition - ceramic work.
Digital work:
April 2021 Newlyn Film Festival, Penzance. Animation ‘Immerge 3’
Aug 2020 ‘Indie Short Fest’, Los Angeles, USA – collaborative animation ‘Isolation Animation’.
Feb 2020 Experimental Film Festival, Tallahassee, USA. Animation ‘Immerge 5’
Oct-Jan 2019/20 RWA, Bristol. Open Exhibition. Animation 'Immerge 2'
July 2019 Artscape 'Animations on the Big Screen'. Maryland, USA. Animation ‘ February Decay’.
Feb 2019 Athens Animafest, Greece. Animation ‘Immerge 3’
Sept/Oct 2018 Visions of Science, Andrew Brownsword Gallery, Bath. Animation ‘Smelling Apple and Lilac’
RESEARCH/PUBLICATIONS:
Sept 2017, PHD Thesis: ‘Redefining the Anthropomorphic Animal in Animation’. https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/Redefining_the_anthropomorphic_animal_in_animation/9333113
July 4 -6th 2012, Utrecht University, ‘Minding Animals Conference’: Poster presentation: ‘Animals with Attitude: Animated Animals’.
March 31st 2012, Kings/Birbeck College, London. ‘New Perspectives on Animation Symposia’: Oral paper presentation, ‘Animation and Anthropomorphism’.
10th March 2012, Exeter University, ‘Critical Perspectives on Animals in Society Conference’:Oral paper presentation, ‘Animals with Attitude: Finding a Place for Animated Animals’. Further developed into a peer-reviewed essay to be part of the published proceedings of the conference: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/8582 p.37-44
2000 and 2001 Independent animation films commissioned by S4C under their ‘Short-short’ scheme: ‘In the Garden’ (2001) and ‘Child’s Play’ (2000).
1998 Author of ‘The Potters’ Question and Answer Book’, published by A&C Black. Sections about my work in ‘Paperclay and Other Additives’ by Anne Lightwood and ‘The Human Form in Clay’ by Jane Waller, published by Crowood Press 200
1995 MA Dissertation: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ : A study of animal imagery in art. This is the start of my research into anthropomorphism and animal imagery in the media/film and animation.
1994 PGDip Research: 18th and 19th Century Book Illustration and Political Cartoons – particularly referencing the use of animal and anthropomorphic personification.
RECORD OF TEACHING:
2015-2019 Associate lecturer in Animation and Animation Theory with Loughborough University; UCA, Farnham; Falmouth University and AUB,
2010/11 UWCN. Associate Lecturer for BA (Hons) Animation, specialist for a stop-motion animation module.
2008–2011 University of Worcester. Associate Lecturer for BA Hons courses in Animation, Illustration and Film Studies.
2005 – 08 North Devon College. Programme Manager for 1stDiploma Art and Design, and PT Lecturer for Foundation Art and Design Degrees.
2002- 05 City of Bristol College. Pt. Lecturer for GNVQ Art and Design and OCN Art, Design and Media Courses.
1999-2002 UWCN. Visiting Lecturer for BA Hons 3D Design and BA Hons Animation.
2000 University of Wolverhampton. Visiting Lecturer for BA Animation, stop-motion module.
1997 Glamorgan Centre for Art and Design Technology. Pt. Lecturer for BTEC Diploma, GNVQ and Foundation Studies in Art, Media and Design.
1990-91 Pontypridd Technical College, Stow Hill Art Dept. PT. Lecturer for B.Tec Art and Design, Vocational Art and Design courses and A'level Art.
RECORD OFWORK IN INDUSTRY:
2008/9 Aardman Animations – ‘ Timmy’ a pre-school TV series. Snr. model maker.
2004/5 Aardman Animations, Bristol - ‘Wallace and Grommit and the Curse of the WereRabbit’; ‘Creature Comforts’ TV series; adverts such as The Countryside Code. Snr Mould maker and sculptor.
2003 Cod Steaks, Bristol. General model and props making for adverts.
2002 Beryl Productions, Cardiff - Work placement at Joanna Quinn’s Studio, looking at aspects of working in a professional 2D animation studio.
2000-2001 Aardman Features - ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. Team leader.
1997-2000 Aardman Features - ‘Chicken Run’. Model-maker.
1997-2000 Aaargh Animations, Cardiff. ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and ‘Tales from Around the World’ and ‘Gogs’. Model-maker, set-dresser, set and props maker
1995-6 Anterlwt Animation, Cardiff – ‘Captain Factor’. Designer, model maker, set dresser, animator.
RESIDENCIES and WORKSHOPS:
2014 and 2013 Feb Specialist animation workshops for ‘First Light/Second Light ‘ Projects (in conjunction with Animated Exeter), looking at employability skills for 18-26yr olds.
2012 Feb. Workshops for Animated Exeter on ‘Character Design’.
2010 Beaford Arts Centre, North Devon. 3 month residency, particularly working with Gifted and Talented, Yr 9 and 10 pupils.
2009, 2011 and 2015 Clifton High School, Bristol. Visiting artist for ceramics, working with GCSE and A level pupils undertaking an animal project linked with Bristol Zoo.
2008 Appledore Arts Festival. Residency including an open studio event in collaboration with YoYo Triptych Dance Co. – digital photographic and film work.
Sherborne House Arts Centre, Dorset. Artist in Residence, workshops with local primary schools based on ‘Elizabeth Frink’ Exhibition.
2004 Marlwood School, Bristol. Visiting artist. Workshops mainly for GCSE and A level students.
2003 Rufford Ceramic Centre, Notts. 3 month ceramic residency Workshops with local primary school children and local art groups – Ceramics and Drawing.
1997 Rubicon Community Dance Centre, Cardiff, including joint outreach work with special schools, culminating in an exhibition of ceramics, photographs and drawings.