About

1968              Born, Chatham, Kent, UK

1982 - 87      Gravesend Grammar School for Boys

1987 - 91       Leeds University, Fine Art

                       Tutored for 3 years by Terry Atkinson, founder member of Art & Language.

                       1st class Honours degree.

1990 - 92      Working with Graham Ramsay

        1990       New Contemporaries: touring exhibition: Arnolfini, Bristol; Third Eye Centre, Glasgow; Arts                              Council, Northern Ireland; Institute of Contemporary Art, London.

        1992       RamsayBird, Gimpel Fils, London

1993 - 96       Rethink. Travelling in Europe, working as a sign-painter, island of Paros, Greece.

1996               Moved to Lyme Regis, Dorset. Began working in watercolour.

                        Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London.

                        Winter Exhibition, Royal South West Academy, Bristol.

1998 - 2000  Working with John Fowles on his last book, painting the 44 portaits for 'Lyme Worthies'.

                         These include: John Fowles, author of The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Collector, et al.

                         Sir Neville Marriner, conductor; Selima Hill, poet.

                         Another of the subjects was Derek Steinberg, consultant psychiatrist to the Royal Maudsley                                and Royal Bethlem hospitals, London. A long friendship discussing art, psychology and                                        philosophy: all the ideas of his last book 'Consciousness Reconnected'. The most important                                    education I have ever had. He died in 2006.

2003             'Muster Marks' paintings.

                       Recording 'Ma Jolie', an album of guitar compositions. Produced by Joanna Leach and                                         Athene Records. Featured on BBC Radio 3, Late Junction, August.

Gavin Bird and Derek Steinberg

2003 - 2018   Full-time bringing up three sons Camille, Lucien and Gustave.