Creative Advisor
Gill Davies
Gill Davies's work grows out of a deep connection between photography and artistic expression, rooted in a love of people, landscapes and the quiet beauty found in everyday life. Beginning as a photographer, she gradually moved towards a more interpretive way of working, using light, composition, movement and texture to create images with a stronger emotional and expressive quality. In recent years, her practice has expanded into mixed media, blending photography with encaustic wax, colour transfer techniques, acrylic paints, inks and pastels to transform her images into individual works of art. Through layering, surface manipulation and a spirit of experimentation, she aims to create work that carries mood, memory and a genuine sense of connection with its subject.
Showcase
Seven pieces, and what is behind them
Click on the artwork to see it larger, and read Gill’s own description of each piece.
Work 01
Silent Majesty
An atmospheric portrait of an elephant moving quietly through the African landscape. Soft blues and purples together with smokey hues are brightened up with gold leaf. The strength of the animal is contrasted with the mystical and reflective mood.
Work 02
Whispers on the Water
Scattered water lilies drift across deep indigo water, softened by violet and lavender misty light. This painting captures a dreamlike stillness where colour and reflection dissolve gently into one another.
Work 03
Evening Light
A gentle, quiet scene as the day draws to a close. Warm sunset tones glow along the horizon, filtering softly through the stark silhouettes of the winter trees. Their warmth contrasts beautifully with the cold blue hues of the frosted landscape below, capturing both the stillness and sharpness of a winter evening.
Work 04
Egret in Coral Light
An Egret rests quietly in the warmth of the morning sunlight, its white reflection shimmering against the cold, dark waters below. The grungy textures within the artwork create a striking contrast to the softness and delicacy of the bird’s white feathers.
Work 05
A Face made of Memories
A porcelain-faced lady emerges quietly from the shadows. Dark flowers are woven through her flowing black hair, softening the mystery that surrounds her. Her luminous skin contrasts against a richly textured background of deep charcoal, muted sepia, and weathered layers of paint, creating an atmosphere that feels both haunting and elegant. Fragments of flowers appear suspended beneath translucent layers of encaustic wax, as though preserved in memory or time. The encaustic wax surface catches the light with a soft, velvety sheen, adding depth and an almost dreamlike quality to the piece. The overall mood is mystical and introspective, a portrait that feels like a forgotten story.
Work 06
Lilac Tree
Delicate spring blossoms bloom softly upon the lilac tree, quietly announcing the arrival of spring. The multilayered photograph creates an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere, where light, texture, and form gently intertwine. Twisting branches weave through the composition, adding movement and mystery to the scene while enhancing its soft, poetic beauty.
Work 07
Where time still Grows
An ancient contorted tree from the misty Fanal Forest in Madeira stands twisted and weathered through time. Painted in vibrant blue hues, the artwork creates a bold and striking contrast against the original grey tones of the fog-covered landscape. The sculptural form evokes a sense of mystery, resilience, and ancient timelessness, a living presence that continues to grow now, as it has for centuries before.
In her own words
How Gill got here
My work explores the connection between photography and artistic expression. I enjoy representational photography, particularly photographing people and landscapes, capturing moments, moods, and the quiet beauty found in everyday surroundings. Having begun as a photographer, I gradually became more interested in taking and using images to create pieces that connected with my artistic vision.
Alongside traditional photography, I love creating artistic and expressive images in camera, using light, composition, movement, and texture to produce photographs with a more interpretive and emotional quality.
I have now also become interested in blending photography with mixed media techniques, enhancing my images with paint and other creative processes to transform them into individual pieces of art. I have particularly enjoyed making art with encaustic wax and using various colour transfer techniques. Painting with acrylic paints, inks and pastels has also become part of my creative practice. These techniques allow me to add texture, atmosphere and emotion to my work in a more tactile and expressive way. Through layering, surface manipulation and experimentation with materials, I aim to create artwork that is personal, evokes mood, memory and a sense of connection with the subject.
The path she took
She finished the Masterclass
Gill completed every workshop in the programme. It begins with Getting Started in Art Photography, which is where all of this starts.
Look at Getting StartedThe others
Eighteen more artists
Every creative advisor came the same way, and each one has a page of their own with the work they make now.
See all the creative advisorsGill’s creative journey began with just one course
Every artist on these pages started at the same place, unsure whether any of it would come to anything. Getting Started in Art Photography is where that begins.
Begin your journey in fine art photography