Gillian Toft is an established English artist with truly remarkable skills across a broad range of the arts.

I first met Gillian several years back, while searching for an artist to teach my son to paint. Not only did she do that to the point where he is now an established artist himself, but in the process, she became a close friend.

Gill has the ability to bring animals to life, so her paintings of owls, hares or dogs, seem to almost leap off the canvas, as Gill imbues her animals with life, action, and sometimes humor.

When I walk around her studio, I am struck by the diversity and quality of her work. It doesn’t seem to matter whether Gill paints in acrylic, watercolour or oils, the result is always stunning paintings you would never tire of.

Besides her painting skills, Gill has worked in a variety of different media, including glass and ceramics, where her three-dimensional skills are equal to her creations on canvas.

Her commercial work has included book covers, book artwork, corporate logos and posters. Her range of artwork subjects are mostly from the natural world, and include animals of all types, from elephants down to seahorses. Landscapes and beachscapes are also favourites.

Unreasonably modest, given the quality of her work, Gill is not convinced she is exceptional, but watching her turn a blank canvas into something you’d hang in pride of place on a wall in your home, is a humbling experience. (I have several such paintings on my walls at home!)

Gill also gives art demonstrations, and runs several classes in her Eastbourne studio.

Maybe I’m biased, but I don’t think so. Anyway, you can judge for yourself by browsing the galleries on this website. Who knows, you may even find a painting you can’t live without…

Simon Bailey

I have worked with Gillian Toft on two projects: ‘The Trial of Mr Bear” and “The Trial of Goldilocks”. These short films are used to introduce children to the working of the law courts. I write the scripts and Gill reads them and creates cartoon pictures that tell the story and express the feelings and emotions of the characters. She draws about fifteen pictures for each story.

I am always delighted when I see what Gill has created. Her pictures are full of movement and drama – it can be a strange sensation to see my feelings in what I have written reproduced with uncanny accuracy in visual form. Another script is on the way and I look forward to collaborating with Gill again.

Bernard Drake

‘We are delighted with Gill’s work. It has always been exactly what we want. She is a very skilled artist and always hits the nail on the head with what we want to get across in advertising our work. She is very thorough, going through several drafts which she lets us see to approve, and is remarkably quick. Once we ask her to do something she just gets on and does it.

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company