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
Gillmor was born on 6 July 1936 and educated at Leighton Park School, Reading 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).
He died on 8 May 2022, aged 85, following a lengthy period of ill-health. He is 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