Gillian Wendy Best Powell
Born 5th October 1955, Montevideo, Uruguay
Died 4th July 2016, London, England
Gillian's life was celebrated by her family and friends who came from all over the world. A Memorial Service took place on Sunday 2nd October at the beautiful Blackheath Conservatoire, where Gillian often visited for Art Classes.
The following few slides are about her life and from personal family document, we've found out how she also felt about her friends, artwork and positive view to life.
As the philosopher Montaigne wrote “Wherever your life ends, there it is complete. The value of life lies not in its length, but in the use we make of it.”
 Gilli with FlowersGillian Wendy Best Powell Born 5th October 1955, Montevideo, Uruguay Died 4th July 2016, London, England Her memorial service was held on the Sunday 2nd October at the beautiful Blackheath Conservatoire, attended by her family many many friends. |
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 Gillian & her siblingsGillian did not know her father, Alfred James ‘Jimmy’ Best. He was an accountant and a scoutmaster, who very sadly died of a heart attack when Gillian was only four. Gillian was the youngest of 3 siblings, and went to the British School in Montevideo, where her mother, Lucille, was a chemistry teacher and eventually Head Teacher. Lucille - often called Mae by her children, Nannie by the grandchildren - is still in Uruguay. |
 Gillian in Pissac, Peru |
 Gillin & Glyn |
 IMG_5547And more recently… “My work explores colour and texture, whilst trying to push the boundaries of what the artwork depicts. I am not a conventional silkscreen printer, tending to break all the rules to achieve |
 Photo 20-02-2017, 13 03 27Writing about her own artwork in 1980… “I give myself my lifetime to practice, whether it is liked by others or despised, the exercise brings me a feeling of fulfilment. And I’ll leave this page on an open note, for the future will tell as years go by, if my notes of today remain true." |
 13612373_10154473836010312_5785316428288302251_n |
 Gillian Gardening |
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Meeting her husband, Glyn Powell.
One night when Glyn arrived at an art class at Morley College, the only available space was at a table at the front, close to the model.
The class had started when a sweet voice ask Glyn “May I join you?” so Glyn grunted affirmative and shifted aside. Put off by this stranger at his elbow Glyn’s drawing went all wobbly. He kept asking to borrow Gillian’s putty rubber.
After asking many times, she tore the rubber and gave half to Glyn!
...so their romance began!
Words from Gillian's Diaries about friends...
“ Friends are so important to me. I find it hard, sad, when people say they have no friends. Maybe it’s because I’m lucky to have so many, and know of the warmth and deep satisfaction, which is found therein, that I cultivate friendship. I
t’s a rich soil where much is found. Always changing, yet it always remains as a link, a memory which grows brighter or dimmer according to how much attention it is given.
Which is also why letters and phone calls are so important, they polish the links to a glowing roundness, nice to the touch, clean and smooth. How much comfort I have found in friends.
I only hope they can say the same about me.”