Robbie Graham
VL
September 2013 Volume 2 No. 9
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VISUAL LANGUAGE
contemporary fine art
Studio Visit Wildlife Artist
Robbie Graham
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
http://www.marineartsgallery.com/ Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
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Studio Visit Wildlife Artist
Robbie Graham
Robbie Graham is a UK based artist born in West Germany and currently living in Tenterden, Kent,UK. Robbie served in the R.A.F before joining Kent Police, where he served for twenty two years. Robbie left the police this year to follow his passion to create his photographic like paintings and at the same time, support a number of conservation programmes. Robbie had an extremely interesting career as a police officer, having served his last eight years as a detective chief inspector. He was the borough commander at Maidstone, the county town of Kent. Robbie said, ‘ It was a great place to work and as the commander of the station I had the privilege of hanging lots of my wildlife paintings all over the building. It made the station bright and very different from the norm! Robbie also spent five years as the Head of Kent Special Branch where he was responsible for all counter terrorism operations across the county of Kent. Robbie said’ I found this time in career the most challenging. In 2009 Robbie was selected to undertake a secondment in South Australia for three months. There he was sworn in as an uniformed Australian police chief inspector and headed up operations in Port Adelaide. Robbie said ‘ I really enjoyed my time in Australia, having never been there before. It also gave me a wonderful operation to explore the wonderful wildlife there in my down time’. Whist in the police Robbie held a number of fund raising solo exhibitions where he raised much needed funds for Children Victims Of Crime and big cat conservation programmes. Robbie began painting approximately 10 years ago and since then his work has become so popular that he decided to ‘make the leap’ from police officer to professional wildlife artist. His work can now be seen in collections world wild. He is a signature member of Arts For Conservation and also a featured artist for Daler Rowney, one of the world’s largest art material suppliers . His art work ‘ Always Alert’ is used by Daler Rowney for their header boards displaying their designer gouache range.
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
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Studio Visit Wildlife Artist
Robbie Graham
PHOTO ‘ Always Alert’ this painting can be seen in most art material suppliers across the world above the Daler Rowney Designer range . 12 x 7 inches, gouache on mount board. ( Private Collection ).
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Robbie Graham
PHOTO ‘ The Connection’ Gouache on mount board . Gouache on board. 14 x 22 inches. (Private Collection) This painting was completed by Robbie after visiting a zoo in Europe. Robbie said, ‘ I recognise the need for well kept zoo’s where animals can flourish in safety and remain protected, but on this occasion I felt extremely sorry for this wonderful tiger and decided then and there to paint him. In thispiece I wanted to capture the almost helplessness of this magnificent creature.’
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Robbie has travelled the world to secure good reference material. Robbie said’ I also enjoy photographing wildlife and building my knowledge in relation to conservation issues, I have a particular interest in the big cats, as can be seen in many of my paintings!
PHOTO . ‘Watching’ Goauche on board. 16 x 30 inches. Robbie is self taught and extremely passionate about conservation. He has provided a number of originals to fund raising charities in order to support them. Robbie said’ I am always inspired by the many wonderful wildlife artists across the world. Art to me is about creating something that ‘connects ‘ with the viewer and seeks to make them stand back and really appreciate the wonderful creatures we are all so privileged to share this world with. Capturing the true spirit of nature is so important to me . I will always make the eyes the focal point in many of my paintings’.
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
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Robbie Graham
PHOTO ‘Intensity’ Painted in gouache on mountboard. (20x30 inches) Robbiegrahamart.co.uk 10 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com
Robbie’s work has been used to promote conservation programs such as Wild Cats World in Africa and his art can also be seen in most art suppliers across the world, having been selected as the header board for Daler Rowneys designer gouache range.
PHOTO ‘ Into The Light’ Acrylic on masonite. (18 x 24 inches)
Robbie says, ‘my art is not about the application of paint , It’s about making a connection between the viewer and the subject of the painting’. I started using gouache having been inspired by Cark Brender’s a true master of wildlife art. Robbie’s work can be seen by visiting WWW.Robbiegrahamart. co.uk or Robbiegrahamart on Face Book or Twitter.
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk
Robbiegrahamart.co.uk