Gabrielle Hope was born in Lower Hutt, she attended Auckland's Diocesan School for Girls and studied at Elam School of Fine arts. The mother of two children, she lived in Whitford, Waiheke Island and in 1950 purchased a home in Tohunga Crescent, Parnell. Gabrielle's wide circle of friends included fellow artists Helen Brown, Jan Nigro, Louise Henderson, Robert Nettleton Field, Eric Lee Johnson, Colin & Anne McCahon and Lincoln Lee. Her subject matter extensively encompasses still lifes, landscapes, figures, animals and portraits. The influence of Picasso, and an admiration of Frances Hodgkins is reflected in Hope's work as is her fascination with western and eastern occult philosophies and symbolism. From 1946 she exhibited with the Auckland and Hamilton Society of Arts and the Auckland City Art Gallery in 1955/56. The artist's early death at just forty six years of age cut short a career of already considerable achievement.