George Ann Gillespie was born in Salzburg, Austria. She grew up moving frequently with her family, spending time in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. George Ann's mother was a gifted plein air watercolorist, who began George Ann's art education at an early age:

In her teens and twenties, George Ann studied privately with renowned portrait painter Nelson Shanks. She also attended the Rhode Island School of Design, Pratt Institute, and the Beaux Arts, in Paris, France.

While in France, George Ann furthered her career by painting murals, working in the Paris Opera scenery atelier and exhibiting in the Gallerie des Trois Rivers.

Upon her return to the United States, George Ann moved to New York City, where she specialized in cityscapes - producing oil paintings, pastels, and drawings. She often works on location, from unusual vantage points, and is inspired by scenes with dramatic lighting.

Most of George Ann's artwork is highly detailed, with a focus on creating three-dimensional images that draw viewers into the scene. Since leaving New York in the late 1980s, she has broadened the focus of her work to include numerous other cities, towns, harbors and landscapes.

George Ann continues to exhibit nationally and is represented in many private and corporate collections. She divides her time between Black Mountain, North Carolina and San Miguel de Allende, MX, while continuing to travel and work on locations throughout the world.