Couples Doings Things – Neil Gilks & Daniel Reynolds

These lovely blokes are as British as they come! Upon on our arrival we are welcomed into their Williamsburg home with tea and cakes and Agatha Christie’s Poirot (A British murder mystery TV series starring David Suchet) playing on the TV in the background. The apartment is an artistic visual overload of unique oversized objects, art materials and a stunning collection of art books and artwork spread across every wall.

Neil is an illustrator mostly hand-drawing portraits of male faces, penises and is currently being commissioned to draw fans of his artworks’ phallus and cats together. Neil is a longtime fashion educator, currently the Associate Professor of Fashion at Parsons New School. He met his husband Daniel Reynolds back in Blighty studying a Central Saint Martins. Daniel is an artist that is a print designer, sculptor, conceptual designer, who’s worked with numerous contemporary and luxury fashion brands. We get a glimpse of some of their new artwork and talk about how they’ve balanced creative projects and staying creative as a couple.

Daniel Reynolds and Neil Gilks hosting O.N.S at their house in Williamsburg for the Couples doing things edition. — Daniel is wearing the Bowery Indigo tee (coming soon) and the Astor Trouser
Neil is Wearing the Fulton Heather Oxford & Marion Pant (coming soon)

Tell us a little about how you both met?

Neil: Daniel and I met back in 2000 at Central Saint Martin when we were both studying our Masters in Fashion. I was in my second year and Daniel had just started his first year. It was his first day and there was an annual meet and greet, where senior’s got to suss out the incoming talent. I instantaneously loved his work and drive. It wasn’t the least bit romantic at the beginning but I guess I was charmed by his charisma. We just got really drunk and ended up sleeping together that night and 21 years later nothing much has changed…thankfully.

What do you typically like to do for Valentine’s day?

N+D: We don’t have any traditions.

Do you do gifts or no gifts?

N+D: Over the years we kinda let go of occasion buying gifts for Christmas, Valentine’s day and wedding anniversaries, but we do ensure that when we see something we want, love, need or desire we just get it without much deliberation. So any day can be littered with enjoyable moments that live beyond one day.

You both work in the creative field, does being in a relationship with another creative help with keeping your creative energy levels up?

N+D: We are both driven and passionate about what we want to do creatively and goals that we’d like to achieve. We are fortunate that we don’t have any rivalries as our interests differ and vary, however, there’s something really beneficial in being surrounded by each other’s actions and achievements and this helps you strive individually.

Daniel is wearing the Lora Bomber (coming soon)

How do you keep work/home separate? Do you try to set boundaries to keep an even balance between both?

N+D: Our day jobs are both incredibly fulfilling and demanding but we are both very mindful that our private time does not get swamped by each other’s concerns. It is inevitable that it may drift into our downtime, but in full transparency, if one of us is banging on too much about personal stuff they will be very quickly told to shut up. This year we are attempting to compartmentalize our hours/days/weeks and being as efficient with our time as possible. It seems to be working as we’ve started this year off relaxed and creatively charged.

If you are not working or working on a project, what do you typically like to do together for downtime?

N+D: Downtime for us is usually project-based, we both have an artistic practice which we are very committed to. A monumental step for us last year happened when we purchased a cottage upstate and this has been a real labor of love. It has been challenging with learning about oil tanks, getting acquainted with power tools and arguing over spacial design and decor. It has been a test of patience, forced us to grow up a lot with certain responsibilities that are required for first-time homeowners. Ultimately it has given us freedom of space outside of our apartment and the opportunity to breathe so when we do get back to the city we are ready for any challenges we may face.