Robin McRoberts
Bangor,Northern Ireland
Summary
* Creative professional with focus on painting, drawing, and mixed media.
* Strong background in producing commissioned artwork, leading community art projects, and teaching art workshops.
* Innovative Artist with strengths in acrylic and oil painting, monoprints, and the use of digital drawing and painting.
* Creates bespoke artwork that evokes emotion and meets client specifications. * Engages effectively with galleries and collectors to drive art sales and enhance audience connections.
* Compassionate professional utilising art as a therapeutic medium to foster healing and emotional expression.
* Incorporates professional feedback to fuel continuous improvement, perfect new skills and purse professional development.
* Highly effective communicator and collaborator, with keen eye for detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
* Enthusiastic about contributing to innovative and inspiring artistic endeavours.
Overview
51
51
years of professional experience
Work History
Artist
Self-employed
Bangor, Down
01.2024 - Current
- Working full-time as a professional artist from my studio 6A in Bangor, Co. Down.
- Producing artwork using acrylics and oils on canvas, monoprints, mixed media pieces, and increasingly original artwork in Procreate on iPad.
- Completed commission-based work while following client requests and vision.
- Developed ideas and art to invoke emotion and convey messages.
- Created bespoke, one-off fine art pieces to detailed specifications, for maximum client satisfaction.
- Communicated effectively with clients to ascertain and deliver against exact artistic requirements.
- Communicated with galleries, markets and private collectors to facilitate art sales.
- Utilised feedback from gallery visitors and online platforms to refine artistic approach and enhance audience engagement.
- Implemented advanced techniques in various mediums, including digital illustration and mixed media, to create innovative artworks.
- Assessed strengths and weaknesses of different types of media.
Artwork with cancer patients
Action Cancer
Belfast, Antrim
11.2003 - 06.2008
- In my role as CEO of Action Cancer I took a personal interest in supporting cancer patients using the medium of art by organising and delivering regular in-house sessions.
- Participants found this to be not only enjoyable, finding joy in using the materials, but also cathartic in processing difficult/challenging emotions.
- The use of art promoted an important sense of positivity, optimism and creativity
Art therapy development
Queen's University
Belfast, Antrim
09.1994 - 11.1995
- Key member within a small team of professionals drawn from either a therapeutic background, an artistic background or both.
- Together we devised Northern Ireland's first, fully-accredited, professional qualification in art therapy (M.Sc).
- This post-graduate training then produced practitioners who were skilled in using the creative arts for therapeutic purposes with clients.
Art with young people
SEELB
Newtownards, Down
09.1978 - 06.1988
- Realising the power of informal and creative work with young people, I decided to move from formal, classroom teaching into a full-time youth work role, working across all agegroups [5-20 years].
- Enabled participants to design and paint murals within the youth centre, depicting various aspects of youth culture
- Organised and ran 'Making Art' sessions for younger children during summer schemes, play days etc.
- Taught young people skills in making video documentaries about young people's lives, their environment etc. This involved everything from storyboarding, designing captions, filming, editing etc.
- Taught skills involved in designing posters and information material for youth centre notice boards etc.
- Established photography as an art medium within the youth centre. Set-up and equipped a dark room and procured cameras, tripods etc.
- Taught teenagers how to take, develop and print black and white photographs. Enabled young people to subsequently put-on photgraphic exhibitions of their work.
Art & Craft Teacher
Castlereagh College of Further Education
Belfast, Antrim
02.1976 - 06.1981
- Worked part-time in the art department, supporting day-to-day classroom setups.
- Delivered pottery and ceramics classes to adult learners during scheduled sessions.
- Encouraged students to develop creative expression through a blend of art, craft and design.
- Facilitated a supportive classroom environment, promoting respect, collaboration, and a passion for art.
Art Teacher Secondary School
Department of Education/SEELB
Belfast, Antrim
09.1975 - 12.1978
- Delivered secondary school art lessons for pupils aged 11-18 years.
- Taught GCSE art by demonstrating techniques and guiding guided practice sessions.
- Supported classroom routines by preparing materials, setting tasks, and marking work.
- Used art, creativity and design to develop students' educational and emotional needs.
- Encouraged students to develop creative expression through a blend of art, craft and design.
- Provided opportunities for students to work collaboratively on project work.
- Facilitated a supportive classroom environment, promoting respect, collaboration, and a passion for art.
- Conducted workshops on various art techniques, including painting, sculpture, and digital art, broadening students' skill sets.
- Demonstrated different art mediums with graphite, charcoal, oil and watercolour to interest and excite students to engage in arts and develop individual interests.
- Assessed students' work and provided constructive feedback on improvement areas.
- Organised and supervised educational visits to museums and art galleries, enriching students' understanding of art history.
- Assessed student progress through regular assignments and projects, tracking improvements and areas needing attention.
- Modified lesson content based on different abilities and interests.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Health and social care management
Ulster University
Jordanstown2008
Diploma of Higher Education - Cancer prevention and management
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda, Maryland, USA2005
Master of Education - Guidance and counselling
Queen's University
Belfast1990
Diploma of Higher Education - Counselling
Ulster University
Jordanstown1983
Art Teachers Diploma - Art teaching
Ulster Polytechnic
Jordanstown1975
Diploma in Art & Design - Fine Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh1974
Skills
Technical Painting Skills
- Medium Expertise: Advanced application of oil and acrylic paint on canvas and/or panel
- Surface Engineering: Canvas stretching and gesso priming for archival longevity
- Colour and Layering: Specialized knowledge of pigment mixing, underpainting, glazing, and medium manipulation
- Archival Preservation: Expert application of protective varnishes (matte, satin, and gloss finishes)
Presentation & Gallery Logistics
- Professional Framing: Precision assembly of floating frames, traditional frames, and secure backing materials
- Standard Installation: Hardware integration using heavy-duty D-rings, wire, and picture-hanging cleats
- Safe Art Handling: High-level packing techniques using glassine paper, foam corners, and secure transport wrapping
Digital and Administrative Skills
- High-Resolution Documentation: Colour-accurate, glare-free photography of finished artwork for digital catalogs and portfolios
- Collection Inventory: Detailed spreadsheet tracking of artwork dimensions, creation dates, pricing, and availability
- Artist Communications: Writing clear, accessible artist statements and catalogue descriptions
Awards and recognition
- 2026 Honorable Mention Award (Poppies Dancing), 12th International Juried Art Competition, TeraVarna Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- 2026 Finalist Award (Violet Hill), 12th International Juried Art Competition, TeraVarna Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Selected recent exhibitions & collections
- 1999–2026 Selected Works, The Yard Gallery, Holywood, Co.Down
- 2026 Ongoing Representation, Wallhangers Gallery, Bangor, Co.Down
- Artwork in private collections in the UK, Ireland, United States, Norway, and Venezuela.
Professional affiliations
- Member of the Visual Artists Association (VAA)
Timeline
Artist
Self-employed
01.2024 - Current
Artwork with cancer patients
Action Cancer
11.2003 - 06.2008
Art therapy development
Queen's University
09.1994 - 11.1995
Art with young people
SEELB
09.1978 - 06.1988
Art & Craft Teacher
Castlereagh College of Further Education
02.1976 - 06.1981
Art Teacher Secondary School
Department of Education/SEELB
09.1975 - 12.1978
Master of Business Administration - Health and social care management
Ulster University
Diploma of Higher Education - Cancer prevention and management
National Cancer Institute
Master of Education - Guidance and counselling
Queen's University
Diploma of Higher Education - Counselling
Ulster University
Art Teachers Diploma - Art teaching
Ulster Polytechnic
Diploma in Art & Design - Fine Art
Edinburgh College of Art