drostleGary curriculum vitae : profile
Internationalby mosaic Award, makers voted from ‘best around mosaic’ the world 2002
40 Strand House, Merbury Close, London, SE28 0LU, United Kingdom. – TEL: +44(0) 771 952 9520 – email: [email protected] drostleGary curriculum vitae : profile
fine hand crafted mural in paint or mosaic can A transform a blank wall or floor into a landmark. Whether you are looking to add stylish individuality to your building or put back a sense of local history and character to your environment, together we can create a work of art that is unique, beautiful and durable. Our history is has been marked by great works of art, these have demonstrated to the world the values and beliefs of their creators and patrons, and handed down to us all a sense of their time and our history. Art embedded in the very fabric of their environment, from the great cave murals of Lascaux, the leaping dolphins of Knossos and the fantastic mosaic floors of Roman Europe to the frescoes of the Renaissance masters and on to the organic mosaic walls of Gaudi and the powerful murals of the Mexican Revolution. Commissioning your own mural or mosaic will allow you to put your own individual stamp on your surroundings, enhance your environment and bring out character, individuality and a sense of quality.
art for landscape & architecture My work combines the craftsmanship of the ancient techniques of mosaic making and fresco painting with modern materials technology to produce work which can withstand the rigor of modern life. All work is carried out to the highest standards with an attention to detail and quality not just in the fabrication of the work but throughout the commissioning process. I use only materials of the highest performance, durable and frost proof, and even have independent scientific tests carried out on tiles to ensure their suitability. These bespoke works of art can be produced on or off site, inside or out, and on any scale. Each stage of the work is clearly explained so that you are always kept at the centre of the commissioning process.
from concept to completion and aftercare Over fifteen years of experience has placed me as a leading figure in mural and mosaic work receiving invitations to talk and work both in the UK and abroad. This reputation is bourn out by the many major public commissions I have received and the awards for the finished works, including an international award for best mosaic in 2002 voted by mosaic makers from around the world. drostleGary curriculum vitae : the artist
I was born in Woolwich, in South East London and studied fine art at Camberwell, St Martins and Middlesex Polytechnic. I also studied for a short while in Italy at the Carrara School of Marble Sculpture. Soon after leaving art college in 1985 I began working as a mural artist. I served on the executive of Haringey Arts Council for two years and have worked closely with many different community groups.
In my artwork I am interested in figure compositions and the chiaroscuro technique, (painting in black and white) I also have an interest in community languages, particularly calligraphy, and have studied Arabic and Chinese.
I initially worked painting murals in hospitals for two years after which I became a founding member of Haringey Mural Workshop. When the mural workshop disbanded in 1989 I started Wallscapes, initially working in collaboration with Belfast artist Ruth Priestly. I was joined by Rob Turner in 1990.
Rob and I worked in collaboration as Wallscapes for over ten years, producing numerous successful public art projects across the UK. In 2001 Rob and myself decided we needed to go our own ways in order to explore and develop further our own work.
I now work from a studio in the centre of historic Greenwich in south east London, producing murals and mosaic works. In the last few years I have gained international recognition for my mosaics completing major commissions in Bedford, Lytham St Annes, Staines, Cambridge and Washington DC and giving keynote speeches at the London conference of British mosaic makers and the San Francisco conference of American mosaic makers.