A retrospective by Robin Bownass opens Saturday 8 March at The Orkney Museum

Saturday 8 March sees the opening of a new exhibition at the Orkney Museum by local artist Robin Bownass. 
 
‘A Life in Drawing and Painting’ is a retrospective by the artist who says his influences are drawn from life experience: 
  
“I was a war time child in Warrington and my first drawings were depictions of battles. I have stuck to that theme in my still life studies - peopled as they are by toy soldiers, by postcards, memories and newspaper cutting, Toby jugs…forms and colours. 
 
“I love flowers. My Mother grew pansies - their strength of colour proved irresistible. Over recent years I have been a prolific painter of poppies, as their presence in the garden has been difficult to ignore.  
 
“Painting portraits has allowed me to get to know friends better, self-portraits are somehow done with greater intensity. Scrutinising my local reality from my studio, gleaning the intense colour sensation from flowers all fuels my imagination. 
 
"The earliest work shown is a self-portrait done as a student at Edinburgh Art College in 1958. The other side of my work, which has been important to me all my life, is the body of work from the “Ship of Fools”, 1974 onwards. It is more suggestion than outright statement, my response to the problems that face us all. Multi figure compositions, dreamscapes, nightmares, dynamic abstraction and figuration walk an uncanny path. 
 
"I find painting difficult but immensely enjoyable. I hope viewers can sense something of that excitement, and that their visit proves to be rewarding.” 
  
 There will be an informal talk with Robin about his artwork, how it developed and his influences, on Saturday 8 March at 11:00. It is free to attend, and no booking is required.  
  
‘A Life in Drawing and Painting’ by Robin Bownass runs from the 8-29 March 2025. The Orkney Museum (Tankerness House, Kirkwall) is open Mon-Sat, 10:30-12:30, 13:30-17:00. Admission is free.