Allan manipulates light and dark to contrast vast, intense skies and disquieting backdrops with detailed structural elements.
Allan J Robertson is an Edinburgh-based landscape painter who transitioned careers to pursue his artistic aspirations. After completing an Art Foundation Course at Leith School of Art, he studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 2005-2009, earning a BA (Hons) in Painting & Drawing. Since then, Allan has dedicated himself full-time to his artistic practice from his Edinburgh studio, regularly contributing to exhibitions across Scotland. His work has gained international recognition, with pieces held in private collections throughout Scotland, Ireland, Germany, USA, and Canada.
Architectural and Environmental Exploration
Allan is particularly drawn to the boundaries between civilization and nature, exploring architectural structures and foreshore landscapes in his work. He gravitates toward ambiguous spaces where order and disorder, past and present coexist—places where urban decay seamlessly blends with rural elements. These transitional zones provide rich visual material for his atmospheric compositions that challenge conventional landscape perspectives.
Distinctive Artistic Technique
Robertson's distinctive style emerges through his bold, heightened color palettes and masterful manipulation of light and dark. His paintings juxtapose vast, intense skies and disquieting backdrops against meticulously detailed structural elements. Allan employs diverse application methods including dripping, layering, and splashing paint, often rubbing back into surfaces, distressing them, and utilizing both brushes and rags to achieve his desired effects. These varied techniques result in works rich in texture and color that evoke a powerful sense of place, capturing the essence of Scotland's complex landscapes where the natural and built environments converge.