Biography
Hillier studied at the Slade and under Meninsky at the Westminster School of Art. He travelled to France and made acquaintance with artists such as Roland Penrose and Duncan Grant, and studied with Andre L'hote. His first major exhibition was at the Lefevre Gallery in 1931, and showed an interest in both Surrealism and Cubism. Paul Nash reviewed the exhibition for the Listener and noted the influence of the French artist Lurcat.

Hillier was invited to join Unit One and exhibited in their first exhibition at the Mayor Gallery, London in 1933. In 1937 he painted La Route de Alpes (now in the Tate Gallery), a transitional work marking his move from Surrealism to representational painting. Hillier's work had come under the influence of Flemish and Italian fifteenth century art. The artists' interest in hard-edged realism was seen by many as a betrayal of the avant-garde. Edward Wadsworth, also a former member of Unit One, shared his attention to technical details and they often painted together in the ports of Normandy.