Born in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1947, Roberts attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1966 to 1971, where his studio in the College’s Postgraduate School overlooked the Garden, and Victorian plant house, from Inverleith Place. In 1979 Douglas Hall, then Keeper of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, hung a newly purchased painting by the Scottish artist Derek Roberts in the entrance hall of Inverleith House, the Gallery’s founding home.

Roberts presented solo exhibitions in Edinburgh’s public galleries between 1977 and 1985 (the New 57 Gallery, the Talbot Rice Gallery and the City Art Centre), in 1988 at Newcastle’s Laing Museum and over the next ten years, four exhibitions in Francis Graham-Dixon’s London Gallery. His most recent major exhibition was held at Berwick Gymnasium Gallery, in 1998.

Whilst Roberts decided to stop exhibiting at that time, he continued to work from his studio in the Pentland Hills and as Northern Paintings demonstrates, paintings completed over a considerable period of time often also incorporate collaged elements from earlier works. 

Twenty five years ago, the Dovecot Studio invited Roberts and other leading Scottish artists (including Elizabeth Blackadder and John Bellany) to collaborate on a celebration of its 75th anniversary. Roberts’ painting (‘Blue on Yellow’) and the tapestry from which it was woven (by Fred Mann and Douglas Grierson, in 1988) for The Scottish Collection was displayed in the lower-ground floor gallery. On loan from the Bute Collection at Mount Stuart, they point to Dovecot’s pioneering engagement with the contemporary art of its time, one which continues to flourish today.

Derek Roberts: Northern Paintings, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2013. Images courtesy of the artist and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

www.derekrobertsartist.com

Events Programme:

Exhibition talk with Elizabeth Cummings

Saturday 6 April, 2-3pm, free.

Art Historian, Curator and lecturer in Design History at Edinburgh College of Art; Elizabeth Cummings, presented a talk focusing on the work of the Dovecot studios during the 1980's and 1990's, a time of innovation in the field of Artist Tapestry and a renewed focus on the work of Scottish artists.

Exhibition talk with Professor Martin Hammer

Saturday 23 March, 2-3pm, free.

Inverleith House was delighted to welcome leading art historian Professor Martin Hammer of the University of Kent (Formerly the University of Edinburgh) to present a talk on the work of Derek Roberts.

Early Gallery Goers (EGGs) Tours

Wednesday 27 February and March, 11am – 11.45am, £5.

Join Geraldine and Katy for an interactive tour of the exhibition designed especially for your little 'EGGs' During the EGG tour we hope to find out what they 'really' like, and get into exciting discussions and debates! Geraldine Heaney and Katy Wilson have a wealth of experience in creating performances, installations, gigs, films and events for early years. Please note each child must be accompanied by an adult and tours are limited to 10 children aged 3 to 6.