1966    Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Gilli is the youngest of three daughters. Her uncle is an artist.

1978    Attended Durrants School, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire. Studied O-level art & design.

1983    Offered a place at Watford College of art and design, but didn't take due to parental pressure. Started office work

           as a temporary agency worker. Moving onto a trade union based job in Hampstead, London.

1988    Worked as a secretary for well known engineering company in Stevenage, Hertfordshire until made redundant in 1991.

1988    Became a member of Stevenage Artist Co-Operative, exhibiting regularly at The Dennington Gallery until 1993.

1991    Attended Hitchin College, Hertfordshire, studying painting and drawing.

1992    Becomes a Founder Member of The Society for All Artists (SAA) through Alwyn & June Crawshaw.

1994    Shows artwork at SAA first exhibition at Methodist Central Hall, London. Winning an award for best drawing.

1995    Show artwork at 2nd SAA exhibition at Methodist Central Hall, London.

1997    Show artwork at 3rd SAA Exhibition at Methodist Central Hall, London.

1999    Regular open air exhibitions at The Cloisters, Hitchin, Hertfordshire from May to September.

1999    Becomes member of Courtyard Arts, Hertford, Hertfordshire. Member until 2002.

2000    Regular open air exhibitions at The Cloisters, Hitchin, Hertfordshire from May to September.

2000    Becomes full time professional artist. Becomes Professional Associate (Gold) member of SAA.

2000    Exhibition with SAA at Princes Hall, Aldershot, Hants.

2000    Associate member of The Society of Floral Painters - leave after 12 months (due to Societies politics).

2001    First exhibition with Society of Women Artists at Westminster, London.

2001    Artist training with the Arts Council.

2001    Becomes a lifetime member of The Design & Artist Copyright Society (DACS).

2001    First television appearance on cable television to promote first Solo show.

2001    First Solo show at Courtyard Arts, Hertford, Hertfordshire. Some artworks sold in aid of The Peace Hospice, Watford.

2002    From Mollie with Love Exhibition at Harlequin Shopping Centre, Watford, Hertfordshire (in aid of The Peace Hospice).

2002    Regular open air exhibitions at The Cloisters, Hitchin, Hertfordshire from May to September.

2003    Becomes a member of Axis online database until 2012 - no longer a member

2003    Five Counties exhibition at Obsidian Art, Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire.

2003    Second solo show with painting demonstrations at Hitchin Museum & Art Gallery, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

2004    Art For All Tastes (exhibition & art auction), alongside such artists as Terry Harrison & David Shepherd.

2004    Gilli's first Hitchin Art Trail, Hitchin, Herts.

2004    Third Solo show at Margate Library & Art Gallery, Margate, Kent.

2004    First private collectors start to buy work. First piece sold to a collector in New Zealand. Still ongoing.

2004    First Corporate collectors start to buy work. First piece sold to a company in Chicago, USA. Still ongoing.

2004    Start selling original artworks to collectors via eBay - continued until January 2010.

2005    Start teaching art at Tim's Art Supplies, Hitchin, Herts - teaching pastels & acrylics (until the end of 2011).

2005    Fourth solo show at Ashwell Art Gallery, Ashwell, Herts.

2005    Launches Gilli Austin greeting card range.

2005    Hitchin Art Trail, Hitchin, Herts.

2005    Million Masterpiece - Guinness World Book of Records.

2005    Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham.

2006    Start teaching with Art Ofcourse Ltd. Only lasts 12 months. Company no longer running

2006    Becomes AN AIR Representative - named in press as Gillian Austin.

2006    Great Art Fair, Alexandra Palace, London.

2007    Invited to exhibite artwork on Saatchi Gallery website, London.

2007    Prelude Art Fair, Spitalfields, London.

2007    Join Social networking site Moli with regular art blog - site no longer running.

2007    Join Social networking site Myspace to exhibite work (friends, students & collectors only) - site no longer running

2007    The Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.

2007    Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival, Hitchin, Herts. (small painted canvas sold in aid of charity)

2008    Become a campaigner for resale rights via DACS alongside Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst & Stella Vine with press coverage.

2009    Gets first retail outlet to sell original artworks at Pensieri, Bedford, Bedfordshire (until June 2010).

2009    Lavender Fair, Hitchin Museum & Art Gallery, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

2010    Hitchin Art Trail, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

2010    Join Social networking site Facebook (friends, students & collectors only).

2010    Starts teaching Acrylic painting at the B Gallery, Toddington, Bedfordshire (until 2011).

2011    Openly supports and campaigns for secondary resale rights via DACS.

2011    Gilli's Acrylic workshops finish at Tim's Art Supplies after 6 & half years teaching there (until the end of 2011).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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