Robert was born in London before emigrating to Nigeria – at the ripe old age of six weeks – returning to the UK in time to start school, and a paid career playing with computers.
He is a self taught artist, a term that is hardly a tribute to the many teachers that he did have. Learning initially from his mother (who studied at Camberwell with – among others – Victor Passmore), Robert subsequently spent many years attending evening classes.
He works primarily in pastel, the soft sort rather than oil based, which he applies to pastel card. The card has a surface rather like fine grade sandpaper that enables the surface to take more pigment, which is crucial to Robert’s methods of layering colour. Often starting with a dark blue, grey or black ground, he lays down a layer using near complements to the finished piece, before moving toward the desired effect.
For more information go to Robert’s website: www.rstst.co.uk
