Ian's playful symbolism, patterns and colour evoke a painterly language that requires the viewer to become familiarised with the painting in order to feel its rhythm and understand, potentially, their meaning. For instance, we could imagine that the blue stripes in white background indicate the sea, or the yellow pattern in a light yellow surface may indicate warm sand or earth.
Ian Robertson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and studied at Gray's School of Art and Aberdeen College of Education. He is the recipient of many awards, such as the Scottish Arts Council Purchase Award (1987), RSA Guthrie Award, RSA Scottish Arts Club Prize. His works are in private and public collections, including: University of Edinburgh, Highland Regional Council, Gray's School of Art, Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust, etc.