Hugh Roberts

I studied in Newcastle upon Tyne where I concentrated on Fine Art and Graphic Design.

From there I entered the world of press advertising as a paste-up artist. I worked for several large agencies in the North of England, culminating in a post as art director, before launching out as a freelance designer.

In the early 1990s I decided on a complete change of career and opted for the mountain bike industry. After a few years I rediscovered my creative enthusiasm and developed my own distinct pastel style.

Since 2001 I have had the opportunity to focus on my art. I began to expand our poultry flock and develop the garden as well as experimenting with acrylics. I concentrate on capturing light in the Border landscape and on large scale portraits of hens, ducks and other birds.

My work is bold. I produce strong images, often with dramatic backgrounds and, in the case of birds, larger than life. I work on canvas boards and have the work mounted and framed, and I also use canvas panels which can be hung as they are.

I exhibit in several Scottish locations, occasionally south of the Border and at home when we hold ‘Open Studio’ days. In recent years, I have been creating welded sculptures too and these can be seen in the house and garden and at occasional exhibitions.