Aileen Robertson
I am an artist and illustrator based in north Cumbria. Working mainly in watercolours, I enjoy using the translucent properties of the medium to capture the light and atmosphere of the mountains where I love to wander. I aim to portray the elemental qualities and the feeling of freedom experienced in the hills and wild places.
About Me
Now living in Cumbria, I grew up in Guisborough on the edge of the North York Moors, and enjoyed getting out walking in the local area. Family holidays were always spent walking in the highlands and islands of Scotland, and I came to love of being outdoors in all weathers. Watching the changing seasons and ever changing light in the British countryside inspired me to try to capture the it. At first this was with an old camera which my grandfather gave to me, and later with paint.
I have a deep passion for hill walking and climbing, which led me to move to Cumbria, and this inspires my artwork as I try to capture the feeling of freedom and the changing moods of the hills and wild places. The sea is also a fascination, watching the way the colour can change in an instant.
I work mainly in watercolour, as I love its translucent qualities which help me to portray the light in the hills, and the feeling of freedom I experience wandering in the mountains. Recently I have been using maps as a background for painting the places I love. There is an artistic quality to the contours of the map, and maps for me have always represented a possibility for adventure and exploring.
Work with me
Is there a place that means a lot to you, or would you like to have a memory of somewhere special to you on your wall? I accept commissions, so please get in touch if you have something you would like to create with me. It might be that you would like your favourite hill on a map of the hill, or maybe the valley you used to live in? Whatever it is, I'd love to hear it, and we can create your ideal piece together.
I also create custom illustrations, and am always open to projects that work with my style. I work in watercolour, inks, and pen and wash. I have worked on illustrating poems and crag topos for a climbing guidebook. My mountaineering mouse illustrations of famous mountaineering quotes are available on t-shirts and as prints. Please have a look at my portfolio, and get in touch if you'd like to start a project with me.
If you would like to try painting for yourself I run occasional watercolour workshops, and can arrange a workshop for your group. I also run sketching walks in the English Lake District, if you would like to experience the thrill of working from life.
