Galerie1.Galerie2.Galerie3    Guinée-Bissau. Artistes

Guilherme Semedo Tavares was born on 31st January 1962 in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.  He spent most of his childhood in father's garage, but soon discovered that this was not his real world.  His interests lay more with cinema, nature and the colours of the world.

Gui began his life as an artist at the age of eleven by illustrating all of the characters he saw in films.  As a young adult, he became assistant director of the National School of Arts in Guinea-Bissau, and worked very closely with many non-government organisations.

From 1980-1982, he studied graphic design and photography in Brazil and children's book illustration in Amsterdam.

In 1986 he was sent to Cuba by his government in Guinea-Bissau and finished his studying at the University of Havana with a Masters degree in Fine Arts and as a qualified art teacher in painting and sculpture.

Guilherme returned to his home country in 1991 and was nominated a director of the National School of Arts and General Coordinator of the artistic programme.

Gui came to England in 1994 to join his family and has continued to exhibit his work widely.  His many workshops include work with schools, youth and community groups and professional dance companies, both in England and overseas.  He has also worked as a freelance artist for several publishing companies in England concerned with children's book illustration and has entered and been successful in several visual arts competitions.

Collections

Both private and public collections of Gui's work exist in Spain, Portugal, France, England, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Senegal, Angola, Cape-Verde and Guinea-Bissau.