Gillian Lee-Smith

A lifetime fascination with storytelling, history, fairytales and folklore, has led Gillian Lee Smith to create imagery based on the everyday whirling mind of a person who does not always wish to be rooted in the realistic present. Glimpses of characters tell stories that resonate with melancholic sentiment. Puppets and dolls with heart and emotion, long lost souls, decadence and decay and the contrasts and complexities of life. All are endlessly captivating and thought provoking. Gillian’s character sculptures in particular are a nod towards her imagination, avid reading and childhood dreams. They are a way of seeking the perfect representation of our character. Each piece is crafted from polymer clay and reclaimed fabrics and materials, which in turn hold stories and memories of a past life. The characters, dwellings and ‘fragments of nature’ are created with great care and attention to detail, lending them the title of ‘Things To Be Treasured’ with the notion that the treasurer is safe-keeping an object which will be kept for a life-time or more.