As a figurative painter, Gary Long is involved in the making of images. Particularly those concerned with the atmosphere with coast, the sea, the sky, the weather, and
also the impressions that they leave. Gary says on his artwork:

"Working from sketches, memory and intuition, the initial image becomes secondary to the paint and the surface. It is with the push and drag of the paint, building the surface to a point where I have arrived close to the essence of my first vision."

Drawing from life plays an important place in Gary's practice and since 2000 he has been the life drawing tutor for BA Hons Illustration at University College Falmouth 2 days a week. Gary has also taught more recently at St Ives School of Painting in Cornwall and the Verrocchio art Centre in Tuscany.