Robert is a highly respected painter having had many, successful solo exhibitions in London, Harrogate, Newcastle, Scotland and Chicago, he has a solid following and is in demand for exhibitions North and South of the border.   It’s not difficult to see why,  his paintings capture the beauty of the white sandy beaches and the turquoise water of his beloved Western Isles and in particular the Island of Barra, where his father was born.   These beautiful islands, made famous by the Scottish Colourists, will always be his chief inspiration and he returns there again and again.   Born in Glasgow in 1949, Robert studied at Glasgow School of Art in the late 1960’s.   He was taught by three of the biggest names in Scottish painting, David Donaldson, Alexander Goudie and James Robertson.  Following graduation he embarked on a career in art education finally retiring in 1995 to become a full-time painter and he never looked back. 

Born in Glasgow 1949

EDUCATION

Studied at Glasgow School of Art 1966 – 1970.   Awarded    D.A. 1970

Studied Painting under David Donaldson, Alexander Goudie, and James Robertson.

A career in Art Education followed, until 1995 when he decided to paint full time.

Kelsey has exhibited in many of the annual exhibitions such as RGI. ,RSA.and PAI.

AWARDS

In 1998 he was awarded a Diploma from the Paisley Art Institute.

In 2009 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FRSA

In 2010 he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Master of the University of the West of Scotland, MUniv . 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Thompson’s Gallery London 1994 to 2016

John Martin Gallery London 1996, 1998

Kranenburg & Fowler, Oban   2003

Belloc Lowndes, Chicago  1999

Corrymella Scott, Newcastle  2000, 2004

Walker Gallery, Harrogate    2003, 2005, 2007

MIXED EXHIBITIONS

Thompson’s Galleries 1994 to 2016

John Martin Gallery 1994 to 2000

The Walker Gallery, Harrogate 1999 to 2009

ART FAIRS

Budapest 1995

London and New York  1995-2004

Chicago, Miami  1999-2001

COLLECTORS INCLUDE

His Grace the Duke of Bedford,

The Fleming Collection

Credit Lyonnais

Arisaig Partners (Asia) Ltd

Turnberry Hotel

Enterprise Oil

Taylor Woodrow

Paisley Art Gallery & Museum

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Robert Kelsey - The Artist "   with a foreword by Libby Purves

SCOTTISH PAINTERS 1600 TO THE PRESENT 

by Paul Harris & Julian Halsby

WHO'S WHO IN ART 

32nd Edition