Derek Robertson

Derek Robertson RSW SSA SAA AAS (born 1967) is a Scottish artist. One of the signature members of the Society of Animal Artists, he is known for his paintings of wildlife and landscapes,^[1] and for his poetic narrative work^[2] consisting of paintings, constructions and installations. He is currently on the Council of the RSW and has written and presented 5 television programs^[3] about his work and the wildlife he portrays and has written 5 books about his art: The Mugdrum,^[4] Highland Sketchbook,^[5] A Studio Under The Sky,^[6] Otters, An Artist's Sketchbook and Puffins: An Artist's Sketchbook. His work has also illustrated many other publications.^[7]

Life and work

Derek Robertson was born near St Andrews, Fife, Scotland . While at school he attended weekend art classes by James Mcintosh Patrick before completing a BA (hons) in drawing and painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.^[8] On graduating in 1989^[9] he was commissioned by HarperCollins to write and illustrate his first book, "Highland Sketchbook" which was nominated for the McVities Prize.^[10] He was then commissioned by Grampian Television to present a program about his work for the series "Portrait of The Wild".^[11] He went on to write and present a series of four, half-hour programs for Grampian TV/STV entitled "Drawn From Wild Places".^[12] He has won several awards, including the RSW Small Painting Prize, Glasgow Art Club Fellowship^[13] and John Gray Award.^[14] He has illustrated many publications, most notably "Song of The Rolling Earth" and "Nature's Child" by the nature writer Sir John Lister-Kaye. He exhibits mainly in the UK, but also overseas and his work is held in public and private collections internationally.^[15] His wildlife work is noted for his use of outdoor sketching from life^[16] and for often using the unusual technique of watercolour on linen.^[17] He has served on the selection and hanging committees for a number of the exhibiting societies in Scotland and on the council of the Aberdeen Artists Society.^[18] He has worked on collaborative projects with the poets Valerie Gillies^[19] and Rody Gorman.^[20]

Wildlife research

Derek Robertson is an amateur wildlife researcher. He is a licensed bird ringer and has assisted many research projects which have resulted in co-authored publications including a collaborative research project on farmland finches with the BTO.^[21] His own studies have also been published in scientific papers^[22] and he has illustrated and edited a number of papers and publications including the Fife Bird Atlas.^[23] He has accompanied research expeditions to Africa and Scandinavia and to seabird islands such as St Kilda, the Shiant Isles and Handa Island which have all featured in his paintings.^[24] He has served on many research and conservation committees including the Isle of May Bird Observatory,^[25] the Tay Ringing Group, and the BTO council and ringing committee.

References

Further reading

• Mansfield, Susan (2008-08-16). "Where The Wild Things Are". Edinburgh: The Scotsman, Critique. p. 7.  Describes Derek Robertson is never happier than when painting in the great outdoors. Exhibition review.
• Stuart, Glenn (Autumn 2001). "A Studio Under The Sky". Edinburgh: The Scottish Wildlife Trust Magazine. p. 14.  Describes Derek Robertson's latest book is a beautifully produced, limited edition that portrays a personal and intimate view of creatures in the wild. Review.
• Zealand, Gillian (2008-08-16). "A Studio Under The Sky". Aberdeen: Braemar Gathering Magazine. p. 26.  Describes Gillian Zealand meets wildlife artist Derek Robertson. Review.
• Robertson, Derek (1992). Highland Sketchbook. author and illustrator (hardback) (Bishopbriggs: HarperCollins). p. 165. ISBN 0-00-434590-8.  Describes A Year In Glen Esk
• Robertson, Derek (2001). A Studio Under The Sky. author and illustrator (Dunfermline: Woodlands Studios). p. 152. ISBN 0-9539393-2-4.  Describes Paintings and sketches by the artist.
• Robertson, Derek (2009). Otters. An Artist's Sketchbook (SOFTBACK). author and illustrator (Aberdeen: Woodlands Studios). p. 48. ISBN 978-0-9539324-1-2. Retrieved 2014-04-15.  Describes book. Paintings and observations of otters.
• Lister-Kaye, Sir John (2004). Nature's child. illustrator (hardback) (London: Little, Brown / Time Warner). p. 193. ISBN 0-316-72731-8.  Describes book. Illustrated by the artist.
• Lister-Kaye, Sir John (2003). Song of The Rolling Earth. illustrator (hardback) (London: Time Warner). p. 332. ISBN 0-316-86176-6.  Book Illustrated by the artist
• Robertson, Derek; Boon, A. Williams, O. Sainsbury, J. McPhail, R. Lambert, t. Hoskyns, B. Gudgeon, S. Sykes, K. (2007). Grouse. An Artists' View. author and illustrator (hardback) (Shrewsbury: Swan Hill Press/ Quiller Press). pp. 130–143 & 151. ISBN 978-1-84689-019-2.  Book. Images of grouse. Paintings and writing by the artist.
• Daichies, D., ed. (199). Tam O' Shanter. A Tale. illustrator (hardback) (in English and Scots) (Edinburgh: Moubray House Publishing). p. 32. ISBN 0-948473-17-7.  CS1 maint: English language specified (link) Book. Illustrations by the artist.
• Stroud, Ken (Winter 2001). "Wildlife Sketchbook (periodical)". Wildscape Magazine. The Wildlife Art Society International. pp. 4–5. The artist works extensively in the field...  Description: review by editor of Wildscape magazine describing artist's working technique.
• Gage, Edward (June 1992). "Gestural Empathy of a Poet (broadsheet)". The Scotsman. large series of emphatically detailed observations.  Description: exhibition review

External links

• "Otterly fabulous: The artist who has been painting his furry friends for 20 years", Th Daily Mail, 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
• "Interview: Derek Robertson is never happier than when painting in the great outdoors", The Scotsman, 15 August 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
• Wildlife and landscapes
• Narrative paintings and constructions
• "Portrait of The Wild" (YouTube)
• "Drawn From Wild Places" (YouTube)