Born in Wales in 1972 Gareth Lye has been engaged in drawing, painting and making things all his life.
He was attracted from an early age to work which combined thoughtful approach with concise action and interesting mediums.
Gareths work is richly considered and executed with real craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each piece is a genuine labour of love, a piece of Gareth’s heart, his need to create.
Formal education took the path of a Foundation Course in Art & Design at Swansea Institute in 1992. Then a HND in Graphic Information Design at Harrow in 1995. A few years later further study, a HND & BA(Hons) Architectural Stained Glass at Swansea Institute in 2002.
From 2002-13 Gareth balanced his time between sub-contracting to artists & studios in the UK to carry out research, design, fabrication & installation of large scale private, public & sculptural commissions in glass. As well as regularly exhibiting paintings, supplying beautiful ceramic objects to various independant boutiques and completing many private stained glass commissions.
Gareth moved to Saint Ives in 2014 to concentrate solely on painting & wood carving, working to commission and selling work independently. He regularly exhibited as a member of the Saint Ives Society of Artists at The Mariner’s Gallery from 2016-2021, where for a brief time, he was a Director.
He returned to South Wales in 2021. Where he works from an attic studio overlooking Swansea Bay.
After over 20 years of practice using various mediums and artisan crafts, Gareth has developed a highly accomplished and intricate style of figurative painting, rich in autobiographical symbolism, arriving somewhere between reality and hyper-reality.
When viewing one of Gareth’s paintings, one glimpses a world which evokes; classic literature, fairy tale, myth, illusion, childhood memories and is both comforting and unsettling. Beguilingly memorable, beautiful and poignant. Beautiful work.
I’ve worked and known Gareth for years! It’s a real pleasure to have his work back at the gallery as one of our rostra of artists.
