Gillian Phillips, an artist and writer living in Sheffield will become the first person ever to sleep over night at the National Gallery - in a bed within sight of the world’s greatest paintings - ahead of its complete public re-opening to mark its 200th anniversary.
Randomly selected from the Gallery’s biggest-ever prize draw, Gillian Phillips will be the first member of the public to enter the Sainsbury Wing on the night of Friday 9 May, following its two-year closure, and will experience the biggest rehang of the Gallery’s entire collection - C C Land: The Wonder of Art.
Gillian is a mother and grandmother of 10 children (aged 2‒20 years), a speaker, mentor and charity trustee. She describes herself as a Londoner, who now enjoys living near the Peak District in Sheffield. She says: ‘I feel it is a great privilege to receive the opportunity to Wake up to the 'Wonder of Art'. I have loved the National Gallery since I was a child. And though I no longer live in London I still consider the Gallery to be my art home and have its pictures sitting in my mind all the time.’
While she lived in London Gillian worked as a freelance lecturer some twenty years ago taking children around the National Gallery. She also took part in drawing classes inspired by the Gallery’s pictures.
22,353 people entered the draw for a chance to sleep in a bed - in a first for a British art gallery - on the ‘bridge’ that connects the newly refurbished Sainsbury Wing with the rest of the Gallery. The free draw was open to anyone over 18, who subscribes to the Gallery’s newsletter.
Before her night’s sleep in a bed adorned by the Marks & Spencer X National Gallery collection, Gillian will enjoy dinner with a guest at Locatelli, the National Gallery’s new restaurant, by Michelin-star chef Georgio Locatelli, in partnership with Searcy’s.
She will then receive her own private, personal tour of 'C C Land: The Wonder of Art' with a National Gallery curator before their overnight stay. As Gillian wakes up on the morning of Saturday 10 May, she will be the first person to enjoy breakfast in Locatelli’s new restaurant and will have the Gallery to herself to explore ahead of the first public opening of the Sainsbury Wing at 10am.
As she makes her way through the Gallery, Gillian will see over 1,000 works of art, which trace the development of painting in the Western European tradition from the 13th to 20th centuries, from iconic masterpieces to paintings which have never previously been seen in the National Gallery. The carefully curated rehang will enable Gillian to not only see her favourites returned to the walls, but also those paintings in the context of history, of collecting for the nation and where we are now. A true opportunity to see the bigger picture and experience the wonder of art.
All visitors can see the completed redisplay from 10am on Saturday 10 May 2025, to coincide with the opening to the public of the transformed Sainsbury Wing after more than two years of building works, reshaping the National Gallery for its third century and the next generation of visitors.
Wake up to the Wonder of Art Press Opportunities
Friday 9 May
8am Press View 'C C Land – The Wonder of Art' and the Sainsbury Wing (interviews with curators)
8pm–9pm Interviews with Gillian and curator
9.15pm Photo opportunity
Please RSVP to which timed event at press.external@nationalgallery.org.uk
Image credit
Gillian Phillips Photo: © Gillian Phillips
NG200 Wake up to the 'C C Land – The Wonder of Art'. Bed, adorned by the Marks & Spencer X National Gallery collection, at the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing link © Photo: The National Gallery
Publicity images can be obtained from https://press.nationalgallery.org.uk/
