Well it's December everyone (how did that happen?!) and not only does that mean a month of festivities with the family, overeating (and drinking) and the mad dash for last minute Christmas pressies (we've all been there), but it also signifies the end to another year... and here at Robertson Fine Art we have managed to pack a fair bit into 2018! We have had another incredibly busy, sometimes crazy but truly successful year which was crammed with exhibitions, personal appearances, art fairs, new artists and new artworks aplenty! So we thought what better way to round off the year than with a look back at some of our biggest highlights from this whirlwind of a year - with the hope that next year will be even bigger and better, and you will join us all over again for the ride!
So after our annual sale in January this year, we took a couple of months to get the gallery back in order and prep ourselves for a very special exhibition we had planned... On Saturday the 24th of March we opened our doors for our first ever exhibition with one of Scotland's leading contemporary artists - Jack Vettriano! The event ran for a total of two weeks and saw not only the largest collection of limited edition works to ever be displayed in a gallery setting, but also the highly impressive original depiction of National Treasure Billy Connolly, fresh out of the People's Palace. 'Dr Connolly, I Presume?' had been displayed with the two other originals of Billy, that had been specially commissioned by the BBC to celebrate his 50 years in show business - and now it was right here in our gallery! People flocked from all around the UK and even around the world to see the work of such a notable artist and this soon became, unsurprisingly, the most attended event in Robertson Fine Art history. The loveliest thing about this event was that we got to meet so many different clients from all different walks of life, young and old... who all shared one thing - a deep connection with the work of Vettriano, and this certainly started our year with a bang!
April also saw the launch of two brand new artists - figurative artist Richard Blunt and innovative artist Craig Davison. Their first two collections released were extremely successful with us and due to the popularity of his new series 'Harmony: Darkness & Light' , we secured a show with Richard to take place the following month in order to showcase his new collection in Scotland! It was Richard's first solo appearance to include a complete gallery exhibition, so this was incredibly exciting for us to be hosting such an event! Along with the newest collection were two new never before seen works unveiled at the exhibition - and we also displayed Richard Blunt's first and only collaborative original oil painting with the truly exceptional Mr JJ Adams. Richard's work has continued to be sought after since his exhibition and we could not be more pleased about it!
After a wonderful (and very very warm?!) couple of summer months, we said hello to the annual Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, and the buzz of the city was well and truly in full swing once again... and what better time than to host our second personal appearance with the amazing Katy Jade Dobson! Katy had been working tirelessly over the summer creating a brand new collection to perfectly coincide with her return to Scotland. On Saturday the 18th of August we unveiled the collection 'Highland Territory' in our Edinburgh gallery which consisted of beautiful and vibrant depictions of highland cows, eagles, owls and a particularly special, incredibly enchanting woodland scene complete with colourful trees and noble stags. This was produced as a limited edition print of just 25, exclusively for Robertson Fine Art - and along with this was the opportunity to take home an exceptional little Highland Cow limited edition sketch which was given to the first 20 buyers of Katy's works. The event and the collection was a huge success - selling a staggering total of 13 originals and even more limited editions and everyone who attended had a fabulous day seeing the new works and chatting to Katy.
We were only just getting over the buzz around the Katy Jade Dobson exhibition - when the following weekend, on the 25th of August something pretty memorable took place.. Our top-selling artist JJ Adams released his brand new Autumn collection 'A World Of Pure Imagination' - one of his biggest series of works and best kept secrets to date!! The collection consisted of 18 new images and included polaroid shaped light-boxes, embellished screen prints, a lenticular and so so much more! Many of the works in the collection were also a nod to his previous highly notable creations with tattooed icons, follow-ups to his 'Rule Britannia' series and even a cheeky little Star Wars inspired piece all making an appearance. Unsurprisingly, our gallery was bustling as we unveiled the works and our phones were going off the hook as everyone rushed to secure their favourites!
This of course set us up for what was sure to be a very rewarding gallery tour for JJ Adams.. and more importantly, a very successful personal appearance lined up here at our Edinburgh gallery. Over the next month we worked daily to prep for the big show, but no amount of prepping could of ever braced us for what was to come! On the morning of Saturday the 29th Of September people began to queue, eagerly awaiting our door opening at 12oclock - by the time we were ready to let everyone in the line was half way up the street!!! The first 50 customers who walked through our doors were given a special 'Wonka Bar' and one very special guest would have a Golden Ticket inside - entitling them to a piece worth £3,000 - but there was easily around 100 people who were in attendance, and the atmosphere was electric! We had a whole host of entertainment to go along with the outstanding collection, with the guys over at Tonic Bar shaking up some personalised cocktails, our resident DJ on the decks, a candy cart full of sweet treats and even magician Elliot Bibby conjuring up some tricks for everyone! It was a sensational day for all involved and quickly made it to the top of our list of highlights for the year.
How could we follow on from such an incredible show?! Well of course there was only one artist - Zombiedan! For the third year running Zombiedan was back in Edinburgh with his latest collection 'Popculcher' as well as brand new never before seen works, and brand new techniques he was unveiling specially at our exhibition! Along with this was a new exclusive Scottish piece which was created for his show with us named 'Vandal Of The North'. If you have heard of our exhibitions with Zombiedan - you will be aware that since hosting his first ever solo appearance in our Edinburgh gallery three years ago and with a 90 percent sell out rate - his popularity north of the border has soared, so we knew this show would be just as exceptional! Many of the stencils and original works had sold before we even opened the doors at 1 oclock and for another year running the show was was a triumph. You can even now see two of his new 'Twiggy' works from this exhibition whilst you enjoy a stunning meal at Six By Nico restaurant in Edinburgh!
We wrapped up our personal appearances for the year at our Edinburgh gallery with one very last first-class exhibition from one of our newest artists to showcase with us this year - Craig Davison! This was Craig's first ever solo appearance in Scotland so we pulled out all the stops and completely filled the gallery with his original and limited edition pieces from his newest collections 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' and 'Golden Years'. To celebrate his first ever show in Scotland Craig also created a spectacular exclusive piece 'You'll Never Take Our Tunnocks' inspired by the famous Braveheart 'Freeeeedoommm' scene - which was completed as both an original oil, preliminary pencil sketch and limited edition prints. The first 20 buyers at the show were also lucky enough to bag themselves a signed limited edition copy of the exclusive sketch. Both Craig and ourselves were blown away by the response to the show and I am sure after the success of the day - he will be back with us again soon, so watch this space!
After a weekend at the annual Edinburgh Art Fair, it was was time to complete our very last date in the diary for the year! We rounded things off with a final personal appearance from the fantastic Jennifer Hogwood! Jennifer was back in our Glenrothes gallery once again on Saturday the 1st of December and like every year, there was a brilliant turn out of fans waiting to meet her and get their hands on some charming new originals and limited edition works. Two new limited editions were unveiled 'Bugs Life' and 'Flutterby Love' - which proved extremely popular! There was also the chance to pick up a stunning little pencil sketch with every original that was purchased at the event.
What a year it has been.. and in the midst of the busy Christmas period, we are already making bigger and better plans for 2019! We have some extra special personal appearances in the diary and we are working on some exciting extra special entertainment at Robertson Fine Art - so please follow us on social media or sign up to our monthly newsletter at edinburgh@robertsonfineart.com to be the first to hear about all future events and exhibitions!
From all of us at Robertson Fine Art - we would like to personally thank you for making this year as good as it was, we couldn't do it without your endless support and business! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you in the gallery in 2019.
