Artist Bio

Philippa Gillett was born in Johannesburg South Africa to British parents. At a young age, the family emigrated to Western Australia to join extended family there.

Always inspired to draw and create from a young age, she remembers fondly the smell of linseed oil and turps from the spare room at her grandparents house, where her grandmother painted when Philippa was young..

She hails from an artistic family, with her grandmother, father, sister, aunt, and cousin all artists. Her mother was an avid potter and Philippa enjoyed the freedom of using the pottery wheel and kiln her mother had in the garden shed. Philippa’s favourite subjects at school were naturally, art and languages. She attended university, starting two Bachelor degrees, Interpreting and Translating, and Graphic Design. Neither course filled her cup, and she paused her studies to work and travel the UK and Europe in her early 20’s. Philippa has since lived on a farm in the West Australian wheatbelt, with her husband, a farmer, raising two sons who are also artistically creative.

Philippa enjoys the natural world and regularly depicts nature and it’s creatures in her artworks. Her desire to showcase this delight to others, and encourage them to appreciate the beauty all around, is the inspiration behind her work. She has also worked for many years as a gardener, both at a small country school, and for the local Shire, and this has inspired many an artwork.

Philippa is a professional artist, with over 35 years experience. She has completed murals, countless commissions, and sold art at exhibitions and personally. Largely self taught, she has recently added to her professional experience by completing The Mastery program with The Milan Art Institute. Philippa is also a fibre artist, weaving baskets and other fibre art like wall hangings, with a variety of materials, sometimes self foraged and treated.

Philippa continues to live and paint rurally, and welcomes queries and expressions of interest in her art.

A desire to celebrate the joy and wonder found in the natural world inspires my artworks. Fortunate enough to live rurally on a farm in Western Australia, I spend countless hours alone, enjoying the natural beauty around me.

The sound of birdcall instantly calms my soul. You will often find birds depicted in my works, as I aim to bring a sense of peace and tranquility with my choice of subjects and colour palettes.

I often add vintage music sheets as a base layer of collage, bringing the energy of the music into the piece as well. I occasionally like to incorporate some of my short poems into my works also collage, adding to the theme.

I enjoy working with many mediums, with mixed media, watercolours and pastels my favorite.

Photo credits

@wall.flower.photography

Ryder Gillett

Create Inspire Elevate

About

  • Woman with blonde hair smiling, posing in front of a butterfly-shaped wall art. She is wearing a black paint-splattered apron and holding a partially eaten chocolate bar and a smartphone.

  • A woman with light brown hair smiling and looking up at a man in a white chef's coat and white headwrap, who is leaning over her. The woman is wearing a white t-shirt with the word "Sisterhood" on it, black gloves, and an orange sash. They are outdoors with trees, rocks, and some structures in the background.

  • Woman smiling and posing with arms raised in front of the Taj Mahal in India.

  • Woman with blonde hair, glasses, and earrings painting a mural of grass, flowers, and sky on a wall.

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing sunglasses on her head, a dark long-sleeve shirt, a colorful beaded necklace, and bracelets, stands on a bridge over a canal in Venice, Italy, with historic buildings and a small stone bridge in the background.