Gillian Phillips becomes the first person to sleep over at The National Gallery this evening

BGUK_3233777 - Artist and writer Gillian Phillips, living in Sheffield becomes 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 tomorrow's public re-opening to mark its 200th anniversary. Randomly selected from the Gallery’s biggest-ever prize draw, Gillian Phillips this evening will become the first member of the public to enter the Sainsbury Wing following its two-year closure, experiencing 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. Gillian lived in Camberwell prior to moving to Sheffield and she was born in Woodford Essex. 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. Gillian will sleep in a bed adorned by the Marks & Spencer X National Gallery collection, after enjoying dinner with a guest at Locatelli, the National Gallery’s new restaurant, by Michelin-star chef Georgio Locatelli, in partnership with Searcy’s. Photos of Gillian in the M&S bed in The Sainsbury Wing and receiving her own private, personal tour of C C Land: The Wonder of Art with a National Gallery curator in pyjamas. When Gillian wakes up , she will be the first person to enjoy breakfast in Locatelli’s new restaurant before exploring the Gallery containing over 1000 works of art, which trace the development of painting in the Western European tradition from the 13th to 20th century on her own prior to its public opening at 10am. The King and Queen visited the Sainsbury Wing this week after