ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE
ROBBIE GRAHAM
INSPIRED BY NATURE AND WILDLIFE , SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST ROBBIE GRAHAM DEPICTS ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE IN HIS HYPER-REALISTIC PAINTINGS . HE USES HIS GALLERY IN HYTHE AS A WORKING STUDIO , WHERE VISITORS ARE TAKEN THROUGH HIS PAINTING PROCESS AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE HIS ORIGINAL WORK AND PRINTS .
Robbie , tell us about your artist journey and background .
After serving in the RAF for 11 years , during which time I was awarded the South Atlantic Medal for my service during the Falklands War , I joined Kent Police . I served 22 years as a senior police officer , working in Kent , Australia and the Royal Cayman Islands . While borough commander at Maidstone police , I was inspired by the paintings of Carl Brenders and displayed my own paintings in the station . It was during this time my work started to gain popularity .
I was approached by Daler Rowney , one of the largest art suppliers in the world , who asked to use my painting , Always Alert , as the header board for their gouache paint range . A local TV program made a documentary about my art and policing career , calling it A Brush with the Law ! Painting became a real passion and I eventually made the difficult decision to leave the police , taking up painting and travelling full time . Since then , I have exhibited in the UK and USA , my artwork being featured in magazines and books worldwide . My painting , The Splash , was selected as a finalist for The British in Art Award at the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art . My painting , Two For Joy , was selected to promote the exhibition . I was also a finalist for David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year and have sold paintings to Sir Rod Stewart and the brilliant actor Mr Kenneth Colley .
USA . However , the majority of my wildlife paintings are inspired by the wonderful wildlife and bird parks we have in Kent . My style of art is ‘ realism ’ or ‘ naturalistic ’. My art heroes are primarily the Dutch and Spanish painters of the 17th century . I prefer to paint in acrylics on MDF and utilise an airbrush to paint my backgrounds . I try to keep it undetailed , but three dimensional , and I particularly enjoy painting the eyes which show the soul of the animal , trying my very best to create a connection between the subject and the viewer .
You depict a lot of wildlife and animals in your work . Why are you so inspired by nature ?
I have always been a lover of wildlife and nature . I enjoy raising awareness for wildlife protection causes and over the years have helped to raise vital funds to support conservation ; to date , I have helped raise over £ 10,000 for big cat projects .
Where can we find / see / purchase your work ? The Graham Gallery , 9 The High Street , Hythe , Kent , CT21 5AD . www . robbiegrahamart . com
@ robbiegrahamart
Please tell us about the process behind creating a piece .
I use all mediums to create my paintings . I take many of the reference photos myself , which may be from trips abroad such as studying orangutans in the jungle of Borneo , or buffalos in the
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