Artist Gillian Burfield was born in the United Kingdom and moved to rural New Zealand as a teenager. Her love of art and creativity began in Sussex, England at the age of eight years. Captivated by the creative energy of her grandfather’s studio and the magic of his garden it was there that she first witnessed the profound impact his paintings had on those who saw them and she saw the possibility that she too could touch people’s hearts through creating beautiful art. Years later in New Zealand she returned to school as an adult student to formally study art. Whitecliffe College of Art and Design followed, where she dedicated to full-time study and earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in 1998. Since then she has continued to develop her skills culminating in a course with the Milan Art Institute from which she graduated in September 2025. She has now taken the courageous step of becoming a full time artist and turning her dream into a reality.
Gillian paints in the language of magical abstract realism, where the seen and unseen meet. Her mixed media paintings are inspired by the natural world – a bird’s flight, a flower in bloom, or the glow of light through the trees . Animals, plants and symbols become guides, carrying stories of renewal, strength and wonder. Through colour, texture, and dreamlike imagery she creates spaces where magic lingers.
Gillian is currently working on holding a solo exhibition in 2026 and encouraging other artists to develop their voice and follow their dreams. She plans to produce her own art prints in her studio and is keen to support the protection of endangered wildlife through her art. To quote Gillian “ Our dreams are only limited by our imagination.”