The board this was painted on had a prior life as a palette — the canvas used to pre-mix colours for larger pieces before Dobson worked into the marks that...
The board this was painted on had a prior life as a palette — the canvas used to pre-mix colours for larger pieces before Dobson worked into the marks that remained, finding the shape of the gin bottle in what was already there. The Palettes series from which this piece comes was built on this principle: the unconscious mark-making that happens during colour preparation becoming the starting point for a finished work.
Gavin Dobson has aphantasia — he cannot visualise mental images — which means he doesn't work from a preconceived image that he then transfers to the canvas, but instead works directly, finding the subject as the paint moves. The gin bottle is one of the still-life departures in his catalogue: the domestic object given the same colour-and-shape attention as his figurative work. Oil on board, naive and tactile, signed. £125.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Gavin Dobson
Gavin Dobson is a painter based in London, known for his vibrant and expressive artworks that often explore themes of identity, sexuality, and personal experience.
His work is characterised by bold colours, dynamic compositions, and a mix of abstract and figurative elements. Gavin frequently draws inspiration from his own life and the broader LGBTQ+ community, creating pieces that resonate with themes of love, desire, and the human form.
Gavin’s work has been exhibited in various galleries across the UK and internationally. Selected exhibitions include at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Drewatts Auction Houses, ING Discerning Eye at The Mall Galleries, Film Four at Somerset House, and A celebration of Contemporary British Painting at The Bermondey Project Space.
In 2024, Gavin was handpicked by Brookfield Properties as their Pride Artist of the Year.
