An Engineer, A Naval Officer, And A Paintbrush

Rather a lot happened first

Gillian Jones took a BEng, then a PhD in manufacturing engineering, and spent years at Rolls-Royce Aerospace and IBM before deciding that was not it. She joined the Royal Navy as an Engineering and Training Management Officer, which she still speaks of fondly, then took a career break to raise two sons and intended to become a teacher. Ill health had other ideas. What was left was the thing she had been doing since she was a teenager: painting watercolours of military uniforms.

She knows what she is drawing

The work is Royal Navy ships by class, civilian vessels, aircraft, classic cars and commemorative pieces including the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands. The detail is right because the person drawing it served, which anyone who has been on those ships will spot immediately and anyone who has not will simply find handsome.

Mostly bought for somebody leaving

A great deal of her work goes as leaving and retirement gifts, and a good deal of it is commissioned: a particular ship, a particular squadron, a particular career put into one frame. Bespoke, limited and open edition prints.

Still in the service world

Gillian is a partner of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and an ambassador for the Milspo Network, which supports business owners in military families. The connection is not decorative.

Find her here

Have a browse through Wall Art + Prints, our Women-Led brands, Gifts for Him, Gifts, or the rest of our British Brands.