He was born at Stanwix, near Carlisle. Gilchrist was educated in Hampshire, and spent some years as a partner in a calico-printing business before studying under Tom Mostyn (1864-1930). He was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1906 and was also a member of the Liverpool and Manchester Academies of Arts. Gilchrist worked mainly in Lancashire and lived at Sunderland Point, near Lancaster. His work is represented in several public collections.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy (from 1900), Royal Scottish Academy & Royal Society of British Artists
