Fighting Cocks

Born in Lancashire, his family moved to Gretna Green when Robin was 14. Following his secondary school education at Dumfries Academy, he attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1936-40, joining the staff in 1947 after war service. His earlier work was influenced by GILLIES and MAXWELL and the Russian artist Oscar Kokoschka, but during the 1950s and 60s he painted a series based on cock fighting as a theme using a more painterly expressionism.   Later he painted series based on cathedral interiors, crucificixions and the First World War. In each case he made an expressionist use of paint, with rich colours and jewel-like effects.   He was elected President of the RSA in 1973, and was Head of School of Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art 1960-1982.