drostleGary curriculum vitae : profile

Internationalby mosaic Award, makers voted from ‘best around mosaic’ the world 2002

40 Strand House, Merbury Close, , SE28 0LU, United Kingdom. – TEL: +44(0) 771 952 9520 – email: [email protected] drostleGary curriculum vitae : profile

fine hand crafted 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 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 , 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 . 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 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 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.

‘Where’s me bloody socks, morning sickness. Charcoal on paper drostle©2001 drostleGary curriculum vitae : service

lthough I am is a specialist mural artist you may be surprised to find out just how much that title covers, here is the main outline of Amy work:-

TECHNIQUES Mosaic work Including vitreous glass, vitreous ceramic, fired ceramic, smalti, gold, marble, pebbles, cob- bles and mixed media for floors and walls

Public Art Creative site specific solutions as open as your imagination, these have included commis- sions for stone sculpture with mosaic inlay, 15 metre high backdrop, sundials and carnival floats.

Mural painting Including: Hoardings; Mobile panel murals; Cut-out constructions; Trompe l’oeil and Photo murals in Keim, Acrylics, Enamels and Coach Paints.

Buon Fresco Painting into wet lime plaster, the technique used by the renaissance masters.

SERVICES Consultation visits Feasibility Reports / Area Surveys Workshops Lectures Budget, schedule and design preparations Aftercare services

If you have any questions then feel free to contact me on +44 (0)771 952 9520 or email - [email protected] drostleGary curriculum vitae : mosaics

Every mosaic is hand crafted in the studio. Each mosaic piece is individually cut and placed to create a unique artwork. Commission – Greenwich Healthcare Trust

Known in the mosaic world mosaic is the ultimate in style and individu- as Ostia style this simple black and white ceramic A ality. These beautiful, colourful and durable mosaic makes a striking floor design. artworks are lovingly hand crafted for a permanent Commission – Bedford Council landmark – completely frost proof and colour fast...

And because each mosaic is made to order you Pattern plays a vital role in can be sure that it will sit perfectly with the sur- the construction of mosaics and adds a completely sepa- rounding architecture and landscape whether it’s a rate layer to the design. Commission – Private collection floor, pool, wall or even a three dimensional form.

creativity and design Your commission would typically begin with a

meeting with myself to carefully draw up a brief, A wall mosaic in Venetian Vitreous including a review of all the required technical Glass brightens up an specifications and a guaranteed agreement on the underpass. Commission – Islington price of the work. Once you are happy to proceed I Council will work on produce a selection of designs from which to choose. After you are completely happy with the design, work will begin on fabricating your Venetian smalti, it ultimate mosaic, at this stage you are encouraged to come in quality and beauty for wall mosaics. Illustrated here is along and view the work in progress or see it one of a pair of smalti develop online on your own dedicated web page. mosaics designed by artist Tom Phillips RA. Commission – Bellenden lasting landmarks Renewal, Southwark Council All mosaics are constructed off site in my London A dragon made in studio and are installed when complete. This vitreous ceramic stands out in a field enables me to keep disruption to the site minimal. of plain blue glass. Once completed the mosaic is installed and Commission – Housing cleaned. Association drostleGary curriculum vitae : clients 1985 - 2005

Over fifteen years experience has included many major public commissions with many clients returning again for further commissions.

Fylde Borough Council Bedford Borough Council Bexley Borough Council Spelthorne Borough Council Southwark Council Dartford Borough Council London Borough of Waltham Forest London Borough of Croydon London Borough of Islington London Borough of Sutton London Borough of Greenwich London Borough of Lewisham London Borough of Haringey Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Sevenoaks District Council Wellingborough Borough Council Gloucester City Council Hertfordshire County Council Luton Metropolitan Borough Council Slough Borough Council Stratford On Avon District Council Bolton Council Percent for Art Ards Borough Council, Ards Arts Inner London Education Authority University of East London Bellenden Road Regeneration Scheme Waltham Forest Partnership Kings’ Healthcare NHS Trust Greenwich Healthcare Trust Mount Vernon & Watford NHS Trust East Gloucestershire NHS Trust Hounslow & Spelthorne Health Authority Nuffield Hospitals Haringey Health Authority Stockport Acute Services NHS Trust Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Trust Waltham Forest Partnership Eastern Arts The Environmental Arts Programme London Arts Board Haringey Arts Council Cywaith Cymru/Artworks Wales Alexandra Palace Trust The National Maritime Museum Appledown Properties GLAXO Princes' Trust Outset UK Unison NUPE CWU National Westminster Bank Doncaster Community Arts Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust Leicester City Challenge Landscape Design Associates Hart Associates Geoffrey Osbourne Ltd JWP Landscape Architects Wagstaff Group PLC Allen Scott Associates JLT Group Ltd Atkins Global Landscape Architects drostleGary curriculum vitae : guide

MODEL This sheet is designed to act as a guide to what you can expect from a typical commission, this is in no way fixed and will be adjusted to suit your individual needs.

PLANNING Once you have decided to go INITIAL ahead with the project I CONSULTATION would then fix the site brief WORKSHOP and a timetable for the art- I will visit you to discuss any Public commissions work. Any legal considera- ideas you may have and look at can be enhanced by tions, insurance, planning potential sites. You can take this the use of design work- permissions, access opportunity to see my portfolio. shops with targeted arrangements and fund rais- From this visit we can draw up a community groups. project proposal and a budget ing if needed would be sorted to suit your needs. out at this stage. I would then work on some designs based upon your brief.

FIRST PAYMENT DESIGN CONSULTATION I'll return with a selection of designs based on your brief, which you can discuss and then choose one to be worked up further, taking into account any adjustment you may suggest. In this way we can realise your ideas fully.

EXHIBITION DESIGN PRESENTATION -of design proposals At this stage I will present you with a detailed EXTRA / public consultation scale drawing of your design. From this design DESIGNS option you will be able to visualise exactly what your fin- If required an ished work will look like. Once this stage is extra set of agreed on and you are fully happy with the designs can be design, work on the artwork can begin. supplied

SITE PREPARATION In some cases preparation work may already be underway. Wiring for any lighting requirements for the finished artwork are also laid at this stage. Site preparation can be carried out by your own contractor to specifications supplied.

THE WORK On new build projects I can usually arrange to SECOND PAYMENT progress the work in a way that allows maximum HANDOVER access to the site for other contractors, though pub- At the official handover, lic access is usually restricted. Mural paintings usu- which can be combined ally follow a definite pattern, priming, squaring up, with a press launch and drawing, chiaroscuro painting, colour painting, finish- EXHIBITION supporting exhibition celebration, I will sup- ing off. If the artwork is to be created off site you will option ply you with all techni- be kept informed of its progress and would be wel- cal specifications of the come to view the work underway in the studio. work and any mainte- nance details that are required. AFTERCARE COMPLETION A full maintenance manual Completion includes the fixing of light fit- means that most mainte- tings and the painting of any window nance can be simply done by frames and so on. Also varnishing or anti- the client, otherwise I am only vandal coating and usually the painting of a a phone call away and have skirting. In the case of works done off site a keen interest in my work this means the fixing and finishing on the long after its completion. FINAL PAYMENT site. drostleGary curriculum vitae : contact

Gary Drostle 40 Strand House, Merbury Close, London SE28 0LU United Kingdom

TEL/TXT: +44 (0)771 952 9520 email: [email protected] web: www.drostle.com References

Joe Carter Engineering BOROUGH OF SPELTHORNE Council Offices Knowle Green Staines Middlesex TW18 1XB

CONNECTION: Borough Engineer responsible for com- mission and project monitoring for the Staines High Street mosaic project.

Saskia Delman Cultural & Marketting Manager BEXLEY COUNCIL Civic Offices Broadway Bexleyheath Kent DA6 7LB

CONNECTION: Previously Arts Co-ordinator responsible for administering and monitoring 1 year artist in residence at Welling School, now Borough Arts Officer overseeing major commissions in , Kent.