Biography
Derek Robertson BA RSW SSA AAS ASAA
Narrative paintings, installations and assemblages.
Derek Robertson also releases his poetic narrative work under the titles "D G Rieve" and "Creative Pastures".
Derek Robertson works from his studio in Fife and has been a full time professional artist since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Dundee, in 1989 with a BA (hons) in Drawing and Painting. His narrative paintings, assemblages and installations have been exhibited widely to critical acclaim. Inspired by the wildlife and wild places that he explores, they also depict a fusion of personal experience and the portrayal of images from the natural world. His interests have led him to write and present a number of programmes for television (Grampian, BBC and STV). He exhibits work in galleries around the world and his paintings, prins and publications are held in private collections in over 40 countries as well as numerous public collections including those of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, The Tate Galleries, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum USA, and the Scotland Office in London. Derek is a professional member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, the Society of Scottish Artists, the Aberdeen Art Society and the American Society of Animal Artists and has served on a number of selection and hanging committees. Derek has won the Pat Holmes Memorial Prize, The Guthrie Orchar Prize, the RSW Small Painting Prize (2010), RSW Glasgow Art Club Foundation (2011), RSW John Gray Award (2012), short listed for the Royal Over Seas Biennial Award and medal winner at the Wildlife Art Society annual exhibition.
Group Exhibitions: Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. Society of Scottish Artists, Edinburgh. RSW Edinburgh. Royal Glasgow Institute. Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh. Kingfisher Gallery, Edinburgh. 369 Gallery, Edinburgh. Trinity College, Cambridge. Ancrum Gallery, Scottish Borders. Compass Gallery, Glasgow. Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow. Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen. The Meffan Institute, Forfar. The Mall Galleries, London. The Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven. Barrack Street Museums, Dundee. Royal Overseas League, London and Edinburgh. Kellie Lodging Gallery, Fife. Dundee Printmakers’ Workshop. Travelling exhibitions in USA, Scandinavia and Japan. Website exhibitions with Dundee University and the Smithsonian Museum, USA. Glasgow Art Club.
Recent one-man shows: The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool 2008. St Fergus Museum, Wick 2008. Stirling Smith Museum, Stirling 2009. “Ruairidh agus Ruairidh Eile” collaborative project with poet and writer in residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Rody Gorman, Skye 2010 and Stanza poetry festival St Andrews 2012. He has previously held solo shows in several venues in the UK including London, Edinburgh and a show in Washington DC in the USA
Reviews: Evocative work. The Independent. A coherent body of work…both meticulous and poetic. Alba magazine. Like walking through a personal experience. The Herald. Remarkably coherent and assured. Edinburgh List. Something quite extraordinary.- Artists and Illustrators Magazine. Finely Drawn studies..splendid. A poetic gesture not to be missed. The Scotsman.
Lyrical and evocative essays, perceptive observations…a painter of exceptional talent and sensitivity. Scottish Annual. Empathy, power and patient observation. Leopard Magazine.
