FIONA ROBINSON MA PRWA
ARTIST WRITER CURATOR
Fiona Robinson is an artist whose primary practice is drawing. She is also a writer and a curator.
She is an Academician of the Royal West of England Academy and was President of the Academy from September 2019 – October 2025. She was an Honorary Member ex officio of the Royal Academy of Arts London. She is an Honorary Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh and an Honorary Member of The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
Her work is held by The British Museum London UK, The Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge UK, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Swindon UK, The University of Bath, Bath UK, The Polish Art Foundation, Melbourne, AUS, The Ballinglen Museum of Contemporary Art, Rep. of Ireland, The Cill Rialaig Project, Dublin, Rep. of Ireland, The Royal West of England Academy Bristol UK and other public and private collections worldwide.
She was awarded the Drawing Prize at the Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition, Bristol in 2011 and was third Prizewinner at the 4th International Biennale of Drawing in Sydney, Australia in 2007. She won the University of Bath Painting Prize in 2007 and was shortlisted for the following UK drawing prizes: Derwent Drawing Prize 2016, the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012, the Cheltenham Drawing Prize 1998, the Rabley Contemporary Sketch Prize in 2011 and 2005 and Drawn at the Royal West of England Academy in 2017, 2015 and 2013
She has been awarded three Residencies, 2008, 2010 and 2012 at The Cill Rialaig Project in the Ballinskelligs in Co. Kerry and in 2010 a Fellowship at The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle Co Mayo both in the Rep.of Ireland.
As a free-lance writer she is known for writing about contemporary art from an artist’s perspective and writes a regular feature for Evolver Magazine. She won the Proof writing Prize in 2007 and has written numerous articles and exhibition catalogues.
She curated the contemporary element of Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter at The Royal West of England Academy Bristol from December 2016 – March 2017. An accompanying publication Strange Worlds was published by Sansom in December 2016. She also curated the contemporary section of Sawdust and Sequins: The art of the Circus at the RWA March to June 2018. In 2024 she curated Allegory in the Kenny Gallery at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol.
Fiona Robinson lives and works in The New Forest, England and Nouvelle Aquitaine, France.
EDUCATION: MA Fine Art. University of Portsmouth, UK 1997 BA Hons. Fine Art and History of Art. Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford UK 1989
AWARDS and PRIZES:
The Drawing Prize Royal West of England Academy, Bristol 2011
Winner of University of Bath Prize 2007 ~
Prizewinner 4th International Biennial of Drawing Melbourne, AUS . 2007 ~ Winner of the Proof Writing Prize, 2007 ~ Shortlisted for the Derwent Drawing Prize 2016, the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012 & Cheltenham Drawing Prize 1998 ~ Shortlisted for Sketch Drawing Prize 2011 & 2005 ~ Elected Academician of The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol 2012 ~ Fellowship, Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Co Mayo Rep. of Ireland. 2010
RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Drawing to Music. The Art Stable Child Okeford Blandford. 11 September to 11 October 2022. ~ SONOGRAPHIE. LE IMMAGINI DELLA MUSICA Fiona Robinson Debussy Drawings with Salvatore Sciarrino’s preparatory drawings for his Third piano sonata. Centro Internazionale d’Arte di Palazzo te, Mantua 21 June – 9 September 2018. http://www.centropalazzote.it/sonografie-le-immagini-della-musica/ ~ Drawing Debussy at The Royal West of England Academy Bristol 1 March – 16 April 2018 To coincide with Drawn the RWA Biennial Open Drawing Exhibition and Drawings from the Royal Collection ~ Drawing to Music, Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton 2016 ~ Baby Forest 2016 ~ The Narrow Limehouse London 2014 ~ High Cross House, Dartington, 2013 ~ The Allsop Gallery Bridport 2012 ~ The Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole 2008 ~ New Greenham Arts, Greenham 2007 & 2001 ~ Havant Arts Centre, Portsmouth. 2000
Recent Curatorial Projects
Curator Allegory Kenny Gallery Royal West of England Academy Bristol 2024
Guest Curator Sawdust and Sequins: The art of the Circus at Royal West of England Academy Bristol RWA 24 March – 3 June 2018 http://www.rwa.org.uk/
Guest Curator Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter at Royal West of England Academy Bristol RWA on until 19 March 2016 http://www.rwa.org.uk/
Co Editor of Strange Worlds Exhibition Catalogue. Sansom, 2016
SELECTED BIBIOGRAPHY: Pushing Paper: Contemporary Drawings from 1970 to now edited by Isabel Seligman. Thames and Hudson and The British Museum, 2019. Focuses on 56 selected works from the 1970s to today. ~ The Art of Walking by David Evans. Black Dog Press, 2013 ~ Criticaldictionary.com 17 edited by David Evans, Bournemouth University ~ Twenty Two Drawings. TRACEY The Journal for Contemporary Drawing Research. Loughborough University September 2006. ~ Reviews: Evolver Magazine Issue 70 July/Aug 2012 ~ Abstraktion.org 2012
Extract from From a Review in Art Cornwall, 2008.
‘Fiona Robinson achieves artistic communication though exquisite layering and control of line, tone and colour. Coloured surfaces are reminiscent of minerals, sea and sky; drawings executed on the gentlest of tonal surfaces are more map-like. Both are laid down as part of an inherent, improvised inter-play between the material, the recalled and existential. Ultimately, as finely resolved artworks, they have a rare purity and elegance.’
Jem Main – Director, The Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole
Full Curriculum Vitae
Born Springfield Worcestershire UK
Education
1997 MA Fine Art. University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth
1989 BA Hons. Fine Art and History of Art. Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford
Prizes and Awards
2012 Elected Academician of The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2011 The Drawing Prize at the 159th Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2010 Fellowship, Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Co Mayo Ireland. Bursary
2007 Prizewinner 4th International Biennial of Drawing Melbourne, AUS .
2007 First Prize, The University of Bath Painting Prize 2007
2007 Proof 2007 Writing Prize
2006 The Brabcombe Award, Ale & Porter Arts, Bath.
One Person Exhibitions
2022 Drawing to Music. Kelly Ross at The Art Stable Child Okeford Blandford. 11 September to 11 October
2018 SONOGRAPHIE. LE IMMAGINI DELLA MUSICA Centro Internazionale d’Arte di Palazzo te, Mantua 21 June – 9 September 2018. http://www.centropalazzote.it/sonografie-le-immagini-della-musica/
2017 Drawing Debussy at The Royal West of England Academy Bristol 1 March – 16 April
2016 Snatched Moments Film drawing & music. Baby Forest.
2014 Discords and Nocturnes, The Narrow, Limehouse, London
2013 A Significant Curve, High Cross House, Dartington, National Trust
2012 Parallel Lines of Enquiry The Allsop Gallery Bridport
2008 The Circular Walk Drawings The Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole.
2008 The Journey Sequence 2007 Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Poole.,
2007 Definitions of Drawing New Greenham Arts. Greenham
2001 Found Remains New Greenham Arts. Greenham
2000 Exquisite Residues Havant Arts Centre, Portsmouth.
1998 Postcards Home Corn Exchange Newbury
1997 Fragments Watermill Theatre Bagnor
1995 Paper Dreams Corn Exchange, Newbury.
1994 Colour and Form Arts Workshop, Newbury
1993 Form Rising Sun Institute, Reading.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Connecting Threads Kenny Gallery Royal West of England Academy Bristol
Drawing – Open Exhibition. Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Birmingham. Selector and Judge
Paperworks Royal West of England Academy Bristol Selector and curator
Wales Contemporary The Garrison Chapel Chelsea London and Tour
2024 Atemkistal Interaction between art and poetry – Paul Celan and Gisèle Lestrange Blyth Gallery Imperial College London
Plus Symposium at The Romanian Cultural Centre London Participant in a Panel Discussion: Visual Poetics or Metaphorical Imagery chaired by Co-curator of the exhibition Anna McNay
2024 Inside + Out curated by International Drawing Box Leitrim Sculpture Centre Co. Leitrim Rep. of Ireland
2025-05 Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition, Bristol *
2024 Modern & Contemporary British Drawings, Kelly Ross Fine Art, The Art Stable
2025 – 20 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2024 Black Swan Arts Open exhibition
2020 Beyond Other Horizons, Iasi Palace of Culture, Moldova National Museum Complex, Iasi, Romania,. 30 May – 30 June 2020 and Tour Catalogue
2019 Pushing Paper: Contemporary Drawing from 1970 – now, British Museum London and tour Catalogue edited by Isabel Seligman
2019 Seeing Sound: Music Imagery and Inspiration. Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge UK
DRAW Art Fair Saatchi Gallery London with The Drawing Works.
London Art Fair with The Drawing Works.
2018 Women with Vision Royal West of England Academy Bristol
AKROMA National Museum of Riga Latvia
London Art Fair with The Drawing Works
2017 Duo Rabley Gallery Marlborough and London
Ink Miami with Rabley Gallery
Drawn Biennial Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy
Faultlines The Drawing Works Patriothall Edinburgh Catalogue with an essay by Deanna Petherbridge
2016 The Drawing Works, Camden Image Gallery, London
Derwent Drawing Prize, Mall Galleries, London & Tour *
Wells Art Contemporary Prize, Wells, Somerset *
Academicians at Millfield, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield *
2015 Prime Matter, European and American artists Drawings, Drawing Museum, Laholm, Sweden
Anonyme Zeichner Kunstverein Tiergarten, Berlin and Tour
Art and Music 1 and 2 RWA Bristol, Hauser and Wirth Somerset
Drawn Biennial Exhibition RWA Bristol
Orchestrated Marks Quercus Gallery Bath
2014 Modern & Contemporary British Drawings, Kelly Ross Fine Art, The Art Stable
Illuminating the Future Christies International, London.
Drawing – the Visual Expression of Thought. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth
Le long de la ligne, ParisCONCRET Paris 3 person show
2013 From Surface to Structure, curated by Novella Baroni and Flavio Gianassi at Jean Luc Baroni, Masons Yard, London
Tetra, Atkinson Gallery Somerset
Drawn, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Anonyme Zeichner Kunstverein Tiergarten, Berlin and Tour.
2nd Drawing Exhibition The Allsop Gallery Bridport
2012 Jerwood Drawing Prize Jerwood Space London and Tour
Drawn to Nature. Rabley Contemporary Drawing Centre Marlborough
Fellows Exhibition Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Co. Mayo
Millfield Open Exhibition, Atkinson Gallery Somerset
2011 A Field Guide to Getting Lost. Masters and Pelavin, New York
Sketch Drawing Prize. Rabley ContemporaryDrawing Centre, Marlborough
159th Royal West of England Academy Exhibition Bristol Prizewinner
Uncharted Landscapes Newlyn Society of Artists., St Ives
Millfield Open Exhibition, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset.
2010 Hambledon Hill Kelly Ross Fine Art at The Art Stable, Blandford
Affordable Art Fair London with Murphy Machin Art
Anonyme Zeichner. Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin
2009 The Northern Art Show, Harrogate, with Murphy Machin Art
World Gallery of Drawings, Skopje, Macedonia
FringeMK Milton Keynes Annual Painting Prize Finalist
Drawn In. Open Exhibition Sidcot Art Centre Devon
Affordable Art Fair London with Murphy Machin Art
Lineweight curated by Aaron Fine. Truman State UniversityMissouri, USA
Transition Curated by Rita Parente of Submittogravity at Exeter Artspace, Rougement Castle, and The Bargehouse, London
Drawing Room II. Curated by Graham Woodruff. Royal West of England Academy. Bristol
Illusions of Space. The Brewhouse, Taunton. Three person show.
2025 – 05 153rd – 172nd Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition, Bristol
2008 Muse Edgar Modern, Bath
Kosovo International Drawing Biennale, Invited Artist. Kosova Art Gallery, Prishtina. Kosova
Trig Point. The Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole
Drawing Matters. Bristol Drawing School, Bristol
2007/08 Art Loan Collection Exhibition, 2007/8 Bournemouth University
2007 4th International Drawing Biennale Melbourne, Australia. Prizewinner
Benalla Regional Gallery, Victoria, Australia.
Steps Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
University of Bath Painting Prize Exhibition, Bath. First Prize
2006 Vth International Biennial of Drawing Pilsen 2006. Czech Rep.
Trace Gallery, Dorset
Ale and Porter Open Exhibition, Bradford Upon Avon. Award winner
2005 Sketch 2005, Rabley Drawing Centre, Marlborough & Seven Seven, London.
Environmental, Open Stroud House Gallery, Stroud
Millfield Open, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset.
Black Swan Arts Open Exhibition, Frome
2004 The Indigo Arts Prize, Liverpool. Finalist
2003 ’02 ‘01 Maltby Contemporary Art, Winchester.
2002 Artifacts Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
Fresh Art. London Business Design Centre. ‘
Europ’Art’.Espace Auteuil, Paris France
2001 ’00 ’99 Beatrice Royal Gallery, Southampton
1999 Open Exhibition Burton Museum and Art Gallery, Devon.
‘Northcurrent’. Watermans, London.
Museet I Varberg, Sweden.
Gedokhaus, Lubeck, Germany.
1998 Cheltenham Drawing Prize, Cheltenham and tour
Kunstlerwerkstatt Banhof Westend, Berlin.
Viewpoints Open ARTSWAY, Sway. ‘
Landmark ‘98’ curated by Carolan Price, Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University.
1995 Regional II Open Le Chat Noir Gallery, Albemarle Street, London.
Curated Projects
2011 The Frost Drawing Project curated by Emmy Mathis The Frost Museum, Miami
GOSH Project curated by AXIS. Unstable Horizon Drawings Digital Projection on 42 inch screens
Ocean Floor, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London
2010 The Travelling Moleskine curated by AXIS. Film
Residencies
2012 Residency, The Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
2010 Fellowship Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Co. Mayo, Rep. of Ireland
2010 Residency, The Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
2008 Residency, The Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
1999 Residency Brisons Veor, Cape Cornwall.
Works in Public Collections
British Museum, London, UK
University of Bath, UK
Polish Art Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.
Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
The Cill Rialaig Project Collection, Dublin Rep. of Ireland
World Gallery of Drawings, Skopje, Macedonia
Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Co. Mayo, Rep. of Ireland
The Golder Thompson Collection of Works on Paper
The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
National Visual Arts Library, Dublin, Rep. of Ireland
Selector and Curator
Strange Worlds The Vision of Angela Carter An international exhibition including historical and contemporary work at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, 2017. Co-curated by Dr Marie Mulvey-Roberts and Fiona Robinson MA RWA
Drawn. Open Drawing exhibition, Royal West of England Academy Bristol. 2015 Selectors, Kate Mac Farlane, Co-Director of the Drawing Room London, Anita Taylor, Founder of the Jerwood Drawing Prize, Yvonne Crossley RWA, Founder of The Drawing Gallery and artists Tim Harrisson RWA and Fiona Robinson RWA. Exhibition curated by Yvonne Crossley, Tim Harrisson and Fiona Robinson.
Evolver Prize, Atkinson Gallery Somerset 2012 Selectors: Simon Barber, Editor of Evolver, Andrew Bolton, Artist, Michelle Henning Senior Lecturer UWE Bristol, Paul Maxfield Director Atkinson Gallery, Fiona Robinson Artist
Draw, Poole Open Drawing The Lighthouse Poole 2008 Selectors: Jem Main, Director of The Study Gallery, Tony Kerins, Illustrator, Fiona Robinson Artist
Trig Point, Study Gallery of Modern Art Poole Open submission 2008 Selectors: Jem Main Director of the Study Gallery, John Makepiece Furniture Maker, Fiona Robinson, Artist
The Interface between Art Science and Technology. International open submission exhibition at New Greenham Arts Berkshire, 1999. Selected and co-curated by Sally Childs, Director of New Greenham Arts and Fiona Robinson Artist and Writer.
Selected Bibliography
The Art of Walking by David Evans. Black Dog Press, 2013
Article Fiona Robinson a different line of enquiry by Jem Main. Evolver Magazine Issue 70 July/Aug 2012
Review Fiona Robinson: Parallel Lines of Enquiry by Jem Main. Abstraktion.org
Parallel Lines of Enquiry Exhbition Catalogue. Kate Jago and Polly Gifford. Allsop Gallery Bridport Arts Centre
Illusions of Space, exhibition catalogue by Kate Jago
Review: A Line of Force: Fiona Robinson, Pennie Elfick, George Meyrick at The Brewhouse Gallery, Taunton by Kate Jago. Art Cornwall May 2009
Review: Extracts from the Journey Sequence. by Jem Main, Art Cornwall, June 2008
Circular Walk Drawings featured in Criticaldictionary.com 17 edited by David Evans, Bournemouth University
Kosovo International Drawing Biennale, 2008. Exhibition Catalogue
Fiona Robinson [extracts from] The Journey Sequence, essay by Sian Bonnell. 2007.
Review. Definitions of Drawing. Gavin Wilkinson. Newbury Weekly News, 25/10/07
4th International Drawing Bienale, Melbourne, 2007. Exhibition Catalogue.
Bournemouth University Art Loan Collection 2007/08. Exhibition Catalogue.
Catalogue Vth International Drawing Biennial, Pilson, 2006. Czech Republic, 2006
Front Cover, Evolver Magazine 36 Nov./Dec. 2006.
Twenty Two Drawings featured in TRACEY The Journal for Contemporary Drawing Research. Loughborough University September 2006.
Review Found Remains, New Greenham Arts Debbie MacGregor. NWN 14/06/01
Review ‘Dance Connection II’ New Greenham Arts Pat Eastop. NWN 22/03/01
Northcurrent. Exhibition Catalogue. Watermans, London, 1999.
Viewpoints. Catalogue with Essay by Rosalind Vall. ARTSWAY, Sway, 1998
Landmark ’98. Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University. Exhibition Catalogue, 1998
Review Solo exhibition Corn Exchange Newbury by Natalie Dowse.NWN 07/05/98
Review Fragments, Watermill Theatre, Bagnor by Gavin Wilkinson.NWN 06/05/97
Review Solo exhibition Corn Exchange Newbury Margaret Hodges.NWN 15/06/95
Review Colour + Form Arts Workshop, Newbury Margaret Hodges.NWN 03/03/94
Review Form The Rising Sun Institute, Reading Caroline Waite. NWN 21/10/93
Website: www.fionarobinson.com
Studio Blog. http://blankspacebooks.wordpress.com
Writing on Artists http://fionarobinsonwritings.wordpress.com
fiona robinson 