
Landscape Artist Helen L Robertson
Scotland
I have lived and worked as a full time artist in the small village of Ratagan in the West Highlands of Scotland, near the Isle of Skye since 1988.
The light is what drives and inspires me to paint.
The liquid light through the arc of a glassy wave or reflected in the wet sand on a beach, juxtaposed with the deep shadows cast against it, excites and challenges me to capture those fleeting moments in paint and pastel.
I walk, climb and sometimes camp to get to know the landscape. I often return to a few favourite places over and over again , which although feel familiar, are always a challenge depending on the weather and the light that day. The more I draw them, the closer I feel to those places and I try to convey those emotions to the viewer.
I go out painting with a limited palette of inks and pastels, and work in sketchbooks or on larger pieces of paper.This can be challenging in Highland weather, battling with the wind and rain. There is something essential though about being out in the elements and looking intensely at the landscape for some time.
The Mixed Media process :
I begin with flooding the paper with acrylic inks and watercolours. It’s is a very spontaneous experience. I let the colours collide and mix, letting them “do their own thing”. I try not to be in complete control, allowing the magic to happen.
I work on top of the ink once it’s completely dry with soft pastel to bring out areas of detail.
Time is spent deciding where to add and more importantly where not to add the pastel in order to preserve the lovely fluid qualities of the ink, but to also bring the painting together as a whole.
I go through phases of being very prolific where everything I do just seems to flow effortlessly, but sometimes the opposite can happen. Time is spent sometimes asking myself, how on earth do I do this again?
I graduated with a B.A.Hons Degree in Glass from Edinburgh College of Art in 1987, then spent the following year at the Royal College of Art, London.
My work is sold in galleries throughout Scotland and online, selling to private collectors worldwide.
Admirers of Helen's work have often commented on how the paintings make them feel transported to that place.
AWARDS
Sir William Gillies Award
presented at the 142nd Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Open Exhibition 2023
TO PURCHASE A PAINTING
If you would like to purchase a painting, please use the contact button at the top of the page or click on my email address at the bottom of the page. Thank you.
STUDIO VISITS
Helen's studio is in Ratagan IV40 8HX 9 miles east of Eilean Donan Castle.
Please use the Contact button (Top left of page) or phone 07802 545243 to make an appointment.
COMMISSIONS
Helen accepts commissions. Please contact her for details.
ABOUT
PAINTINGS


























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GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS
2024 EXHIBITIONS
Gallery An Talla Dearg Isle Ornsay, Isle of Skye 9th - 29th May
Glasgow Gallery, Glasgow August
Tolquhon Gallery , Aberdeenshire Autumn
You can see my work in the following Galleries :
Glasgow Gallery, Glasgow G2 4HG
Castle Gallery, Inverness IV2 3DU
Carron Gallery, Strathcarron IV54 8YX
Gallery An Talla Dearg Isle Ornsay Isle of Skye IV43 8QR
Logie Steading Art Gallery, Forres
Tippycanoe, Portree, Skye
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2002-23 An Talla Dearg Gallery, Isleornsay, Skye
2020 Torrance Gallery , Edinburgh
2017 Steading Gallery, Balmacara
2011 Castle Gallery , Inverness
2008 Byre Theatre Gallery, St Andrews
2008 MacGregor Fine Art, Glasgow
2007 Carby Art Gallery, Aberdeen
2001 Scone Studios, Perth
1994 Stables Gallery, London
1991 Eden Court Gallery, Inverness
1987-88 Ware on Earth Gallery, Edinburgh
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Royal Scottish Academy RSW Annual Exhibition
2020 Moy Mackay Gallery, Peebles
2019 Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh
2013- 2021 Castle Gallery, Inverness
2010 - 19 Lochalsh Art Fair, Dornie
2014 Holroyd Gallery, Ballahulish
2014 Beauly Gallery
2013 Edinburgh Art Fair, Edinburgh
2013 Julian Jardine Gallery, Perth
2012 Edinburgh Art Fair
2012 Nicole Porter Gallery, Aberdeen
2012 Inchmore Art Gallery , Inverness
2009 Logie Steadings Gallery, Forres
2007 Edinburgh Art Fair
2006 Cambridge Art Fair
2004 Green Gallery, Germany
1993 Spey Bay Gallery, Speyside
contact
Tel: 07802 545 243 or 01599 537 150
2 MacInnes Place Ratagan Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8HX