paul robinson
"my work is about the everyday things. Things that are around you, things that you see or hear, for instance on the radio or in the media or objects from around my home. They are rearranged in paintings that deal with issues or place. Sometimes remembered sometimes observed. The elements of colour, mood, codes and symbols are fractured in compositional arrangements often worked and reworked. Mark making and the act of painting being important. I like hiding things in my work, often over painting the written word, symbols or obscuring images that I ought not to show." The recent paintings are about modern contemporary culture and social, political and cultural influences.
BIOGRAPHY
Paul Robinson, born 1964 in Liverpool. Studied Fine Art at Sunderland Polytechnic 1983 to 1986, obtaining a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. Subsequent employment as an illustrator, graphic designer and commercial industrial printer led to the involvement with graphic language.
Paul completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in 1989 and entered education as a Lecturer in Graphic Design and Print in 1991. He continued to teach until 2000 whereupon he embarked on a career as a professional artist and designer. Paul Robinson has had several exhibitions, had work published and been involved with community groups and industry in the development of graphic design.
In 2003 Paul established and became a Director of Artshed Ware Ltd, a contemporary art gallery, the first of its kind in Hertfordshire, promoting original work by local and national artists and curating exhibitions featuring well known 20th Century artists.
Education
1989 - 1990 PGCE Art & Design Bolton Institute of Higher Education
1983 - 1986 BA (Hons) Fine Art Sunderland Polytechnic
Solo Shows
2009 'mundane objects' - Gallery at CFA, Hitchin, Herts
2000 'Rhetoric' - Michael Brown Gallery, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
1997 Trinity Street Studios, Colchester, Essex
Selected Group Exhibitions/Events
2009 Brighton Art Fair, Corn Exchange, Brighton
2009 April - Eastern Open, Norfolk
2008 THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR - Paris
Stand H1, Espace Champerret, Paris 17em.
29 May - 1 June, 2008
2008 Bristol AAF
2008 The Affordable Art Fair (Spring Show), Battersea, London
2008 Spring Show - Edgar Modern International, Bath
2008 "FORM", Olypia, London
2007 Edinburgh Art Fair
2007 The Rhapsody Gallery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
2007 Brighton Art Fair, Corn Exchange, Brighton
2007 The Hertfordshire Art Fair -AF4- Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2007 Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
2006 The Great Art Fair, Alexandra Palace, London
2006 'Verse & Vigour', The Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York
2006 The Hertfordshire Art Fair -AF3- Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2006 February Postcard Show, Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2005 "Passionately Pink", Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2005 The Hertfordshire Art Fair, Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2004 1st Hertfordshire Art Fair, Artshed, Hertfordshire (organiser & Exhibitor)
2001 Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
1999 The Place, Letchworth, Hertfordshire
1997 'Different Views' - The Bull Gallery, Barnet
1996 Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Collections
1998 Paintings, North Hertfordshire College, Hertfordshire
1997 Print, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
plus a number of private collections
Other / Business / Employment
2007 Established 'Redhall Contemporary'
2003 Established and became Director of Artshed Ware Ltd, Hertfordshire
2000 Established 'rkda' - Design & Art Associates
99-00 Industry design led projects :
Ravidassia (corporate ID), Letchworth, Herts
BTC, Business Design Centre, Stevenage, Herts
Michael Brown Gallery, (corporate ID), NHC, Hitchin, Herts
1998 Illustrated - Four Seasons of Flora and Fauna - Crown Publications
Press Release - Agora Gallery New York
The works of British artist Paul Robinson transform the banal environs of still-lives and interiors into enticing images created in a style that recalls the painterly inventions of Abstract Expressionists. Symbolic images resonate as vessels of discourse with connotations beyond the superficial. Robinson presents his audience with a visual puzzle, space is flattened, and objects and surrounding elements are given the same treatment and authority. His images are playful and loosely painted, joyous pastels and hearty reds are offset with areas of black. Viewing Robinsons paintings is an act of discovery; from his configurations everyday objects, such as a chair, plant, wineglass or bathtub, come forth from the schematic of shapes and color. Robinson studied Fine Art at Sunderland Polytechnic and went on to earn a Postgraduate Certificate of Education to pursue a career in teaching. Having worked previously as an illustrator, Graphic designer and industrial printer, Robinson chose to concentrate on his fine arts career. Robinson established the contemporary art gallery Artshed Ware Ltd. in 2003, acting as director, while continuing his work as an artist.
Links :
paul robinson @ www.art-mine.com
all images and design copyright rkda