As Thompsons Gallery London will next week present James Fullarton's new solo exhibition A Broad Brushstroke: 25 years of Fullarton, let us look at another popular and highly collected Scottish painter, and fellow Glaswegian, Robert Kelsey. Kelsey was born in Glasgow and studied at the Glasgow School of Art under the mentorship of those well-regarded teachers at that school during the time: David Donaldson, Alexander Goudie and James Robertson. They must have made a significant impact on the young Kelsey, as afterwards he pursued a career in teaching art, developing the minds of the next generation of artists. Kelsey was an art teacher until 1995, when he decided to devote all of his time to painting.
Robert Kelsey is primarily a landscape painter, images of which he creates from personal experience. " I never paint any subject that I haven’t actually been to and experienced. Depending on the subject matter, conditions and location I might make tonal sketches or perhaps work on colour studies made in gouache or watercolour." Kelsey's Scottish landscapes are some of his most popular, and his paintings of the Scottish islands in particular have become one of his signature depictions. These compositions, almost tropical, are bright and cheerful, with pristine sand and clear blue water. It is not a surprise then that Kelsey's other works are of such inspired locations such as Cornwall, Brittany, Sardinia, and the Caribbean. Kelsey's main interest in painting is the challenge of "capturing the particular translucency and clarity of light in different parts of the world." This is what strives him to create his variety of paintings, in each of these locations the light projects differently and Kelsey can masterfully capture this.
Robert was awarded his Diploma of Artist Membership for The Paisley Art Institute in 1998. (P.A.I.). Kelsey became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2009 (FRSA) and has served on the councils of both Paisley Art Institute and Glasgow Art Club. He is currently the President of Glasgow Art Club.
His work can be found in many collections such as those of His Grace the Duke of Bedford, The Fleming Collection, Credit Lyonnais, Arisaig Partners Asia Ltd., Turnberry Hotel, Enterprise Oil, Taylor Woodrow and Paisley Art Gallery and Museum.
Robert Kelsey DA MUniv PAI FRSA, Sunset over Eigg, Oil on linen, 12 x 12"
Kelsey is one of Thompson's longest-standing relationships; we have exhibitied his work for a staggering 30 years! This has amounted to at least 20 solo exhibitions throughout our galleries, and over 1000 of his paintings have passed through our hands. Next year we will be hosting our 30th anniversary exhibition with Robert Kelsey in May at our London gallery on 3 Seymour Place, make sure to keep that date open in your diaries!
If you are interested in any of Robert Kelsey's works currently available in our galleries, which you can see here, please contact Thompsons Gallery at enquiries@thompsonsgallery.co.uk
