Robert Gillmor

Robert Allen Fitzwilliam Gillmor MBE (6 July 1936 – 8 May 2022) was a British ornithologist, artist, illustrator, author and editor. He was a co-founder of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) and was its secretary, chairman and president. He contributed to over 100 books, and received numerous awards.

Early life and education Robert Allen Fitzwilliam Gillmor was born in Reading, Berkshire on 6 July 1936, and educated at Leighton Park School and the School of Fine Art at Reading University. He was just 16 when his illustrations were first published, in the monthly magazine British Birds. When he was a student in the art department of Reading University, he illustrated his first book, A Study of Blackbirds. Gillmor taught art and craft at his old school, Leighton Park in Reading, for six years before commencing a freelance career as a wildlife artist in 1965. He was a long-standing member (and former president) of the Reading Guild of Artists.

A retrospective of Gillmor's work was exhibited at Reading Museum from 23 October 2011 to 29 April 2012.

In the 2015 Birthday Honours he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), "for services to Wildlife Art". His other awards included the RSPB Medal (2001), and the Union Medal of the British Ornithological Union (1997).

Gillmor died at his home, North Light, in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, on 8 May 2022, following a lengthy period of ill-health. He was 85. He was survived by his wife and fellow artist, Susan (née Norman; they married in 1974 ), and children Emily (also a wildlife artist ) and Thomas.

As editor

As art editor

The Birds of the Western Palaearctic, nine volumes, 1977–1994 Birds of Berkshire, 1996

As illustrator

– Gillmor's first book, undertaken while a student

The dust jackets of each of the New Naturalist series since 1985.