Gillian Ayres: An introduction to infinity

Born in Barnes, a suburb of south-west London, in 1930 Ayres was, in her own words ‘obsessed’ with painting from the age of 13. In 1946, aged just 16, she enrolled at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts where she studied until 1950. Her desire to be a painter from an early age, was a rare ambition for a young woman in post-war Britain.

To appreciate her radical approach, it’s worth remembering that Britain in the 1950s was very different to today. Emerging from the Second World War, rationing and austerity, much of British painting was characterised by the cautious, measured style and muted colour palettes of artists such as Claude Rogers (1907-1979), William Coldstream (1908-1987) and Victor Pasmore (1908-1998).

Ayres was more interested in ‘going abstract’ and was drawn to the teachings and work of painter Roger Hilton (1911-1975) who talked of ‘the experience of things flying out of the canvas.’ She noted a passage in a text he wrote in 1953 that read: ‘The abstract painter submits himself entirely to the unknown… his only props his colours, his shapes and their space creating powers.’

She was also influenced by American Abstract Expressionist and Colour Field artists like Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) and Mark Rothko (1903-1970). Some of her works from the late 1950s made use of Pollock’s drip techniques – inspired by photographs of him on his studio floor.

Her first solo show came in 1956. The following year she was commissioned to create a large-scale mural for South Hampstead High School for Girls. In 1960, she was the only female artist to have her work included in a landmark group exhibition of abstract art called Situation.

Throughout Ayres’ long and prolific career, she experimented with many techniques and styles, and her early paintings differ dramatically from those she made later.

Major life changes came through motherhood, a significant career in teaching at a time when women weren’t active in art education, and leaving London for north Wales and then north Cornwall/Devon. Despite all these, painting remained a constant. Even as it (and she) went in and out of fashion, Ayres continued to pursue her practice – one defined by dedication, discipline, emotional energy and intuition. Her paintings relate to things in the world around her, but they are not representative. The moon, sun and stars often make an appearance, as do motifs from the natural world, such as lichen, plants and geological forms. She used the physical presence of paint as action, experimentation, and play.

In 2018, the writer Elif Shafak wrote: ‘An artist who at no stage in her life has lost her curiosity and sense of wonder. “This is how you would see the world,” she seems to say, “if you could only see it through my eyes.” And the wonderful thing is, we can. When we get lost inside one of her paintings, we can see the world in a completely different way. She introduces us to infinity.’

Presented across three galleries, 'Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour' is a timely exploration of Ayres’ phenomenal legacy. Visit before it closes on Sunday 4 October. Exhibition opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. Entry is free but you can book tickets in advance to enjoy priority access.

Thanks to Hannah Hooks, contemporary art curator