Painter and draughtsman whose colourful and stylised work often reflected the landscape and life of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where he was born and lived. Gibbs did a foundation course at South East Essex College, 1975–7; gained a diploma in art and design, specialising in typographic design, London College of Printing, 1977–80; returned to South East Essex College for his further and adult education teaching certificate, 1995; obtaining a Greenwich University certificate in education, 1996; an assessor’s certificate at South East Essex College, 1997; and graduated with honours in education and training at Greenwich University, 1997–9. After briefly working as a graphics technician at Garnet College, Roehampton, 1979, from 1980 Gibbs was graphics co-ordinator, technician/lecturer.