Over the past 25 years, oil painting has become Robyn’s favourite medium, though she also enjoys exploring pencil, pastel, and acrylic. What began as a hobby quickly grew into a lifelong passion for Fine Art and the pursuit of classical skill.
Originally from Western Victoria, Robyn spent many years in Melbourne and lived for a time in Asia before settling with her husband in the beautiful Noosa Hinterland, Queensland in 2020. Her diverse life experiences have shaped her artistic perspective, enriching the way she views the world and expresses it through art.
Robyn’s fascination with the technical mastery of the Old Masters has guided much of her artistic journey. After beginning a Fine Arts degree, she sought out what many modern art schools no longer teach—traditional techniques of realism and the classical approach to drawing and painting. This led her to study with renowned artists including portrait master Daniel Greene in New York and modern realist Martinho Correia in Florence, Italy. More recently, she has studied Old Masters portraiture—particularly inspired by Bouguereau and Caravaggio—under a European mentor online.
Deeply intrigued by how artists once recorded life before photography, Robyn strives to capture both technical precision and emotional resonance in her work. Her art often combines fine realist detail with looser, expressive brushwork. Portraits, figurative works, and landscapes are her chosen subjects—each piece inspired by life, human connection, and the natural world.
Robyn’s creative process often begins with her own photography, life models, or imagery that simply “speaks” to her—moments that spark emotion or present a challenge worth exploring. She believes that evoking feeling in the viewer and telling a story are as vital as technical excellence.
While her foundation lies in classical realism, Robyn continues to develop her practice by blending traditional techniques with more contemporary approaches. Alongside her realist oil paintings, she enjoys experimenting with pastels, acrylics, and pencil drawings, always exploring new ways to express timeless beauty.
Robyn’s work has been featured in exhibitions including the Salon des Refusés, Royal Queensland Art Society (2022), and her studio was part of the Noosa Open Studios events.
Today, Robyn continues to paint regularly from her Noosa Hinterland studio, working toward her ongoing mission—to honour the traditions of the Old Masters while creating art that connects with modern audiences.
More about Robyn’s artistic journey can be found at robynsfineart.com.au.
Education - Art Studies:
Studied Fine Arts degree at Curtin University in Western Australia for two years via OLA, 1990's
5 weeks (approx 175 hours) of intensive oil portrait workshops in New York with world renowned portrait artist Daniel Greene over 3 years , 2001- 2003
Studied Japanese Sumi-E for 4 years in Tokyo
Various teachers in Tokyo, Singapore & Indonesia in drawing, watercolour, & oil painting for over 10 years 1992- 2002
Classes at Brighton Art Society (Melbourne), under various teachers 2002 - 2014 including Effie Bramald, Craig Penny, Clive Sinclair, Agata Lelek, Herman Pekel.
Classes in Launceston Tasmania 2015 - 2016 with Leoni Duff & with Darren Meader.
Portrait intensive 4 week workshop with Martinho Correia of Italy/Canada 2016, studying "Principles of Portrait Drawing" and "Methods of Traditional and Contemporary Portrait Painting" (Oil) Nov 2016
Month long portrait workshop with Martinho Correia Nov-Dec 2018 in Launceston, Tasmania studying "Drawing the figure in the Grand Manner - Gesture & Anatomy" & "Contemporary Figure Painting using Bouguereau's Method" (Oil) 2018
Workshop intensive - Technical aspects of lighting and seeing forms, 2 weeks by Louise Fenely, in Hobart, Artist from Adelaide, January 2019.
Online 4 day portraiture workshop with Martinho Correia, March 2020.
Online Workshop Caravaggio's Late Painting Method, 5 weeks, by tutor from Angel Academy Florence Italy, Martinho Correia, Jan 2021
Online Workshop Bougeureau & the Perfect Painting Method, 5 weeks, by tutor from Angel Academy Florence Italy, Martinho Correia, March 2021
Online Workshop Portrait Painting from Photos, 5 weeks, by tutor from Angel Academy Florence Italy, Martinho Correia, Dec 2021
Affiliations:
Current:
Portrait Society of America
Royal Queensland Art Society, Petrie Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland
Butter Factory Arts Centre, Cooroy, Queensland
Noosa Open Studios, Queensland.
Robyn was a member of:
Brighton Art Society, Victoria 2004 - 2019
Brighton Art Society Committee Member 2006 - 7, 2007 - 8.
Member of Launceston Art Society Tasmania, 2015 - 2019
Committee Member, Launceston Art Society 2017 - 2018.
Exhibitions and Awards:
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, Royal Brisbane Art Society, Oct 2022
Noosa Open Studios ArtTrail, Participant, October 2022
Studio's 100 Exhibition at the Butter Factory, Cooroy Qld, Sept 2022
Finalist Figurative Art Prize, RQAS at Petrie Gallery, Brisbane July 2022
Exhibition one landscape in RQAS 'Brisbane Landmarks, Landscapes & Personalities', Jan 2022
Noosa Open Studios ArtTrail, Participant, October 2021
Exhibition of two art works, Cooroy Butter Factory, Dec 2020
"Novice Prize" (First time Exhibitor) at the Launceston Art Society inc., Meandering, Meander Valley 'Vital Signs' Art Exhibition, September 2016.
• Exhibited four art works at Warrnambool East Rotary Art Show, Sept 2016. Honourable mention for framing, one Art work sold.
• First Prize, for "Dennington Cows", Acquisitive prize for Hodges Real Estate in the Brighton Art Society Annual Show, November 2014. Exhibited four works.
• Second Prize Acrylic for "Red Wine!", Warrnambool East Rotary Annual Art Show, October 2014. Exhibited 6 works.
"Best First Time Exhibitor at Warrnambool" for "Melissa", oil, Rotary Club Art Show, Nov 2007.
• Exhibition of four art works at East Warrnambool Rotary Club Art Show, Nov. 2007.
• "Highly Commended (2nd Prize) Best Oil Portrait or Nude" for "Something Formal", oil, Brighton Art Society Annual Show Nov 2007,
• Exhibition of four art works, Brighton Art Society Annual Show, Nov 2007.
• Exhibition of one work, AGRA, Sept 2007.
• Exhibition of four art works, Brighton Rotary Club Annual Show, August 2007.
• Exhibition of four art works, Brighton Art Society Annual Show, Nov 2006.
• “Best Portrait” for “Michel” pencil drawing – Brighton Art Society Annual Show November 2005.
• Exhibition of four art works, Brighton Art Society Annual Show, Nov 2005.
• First Prize – Brighton Art Society Annual Casserole Night; one term class value approx $100 for “Coffee” pencil drawing, August 2005
• Exhibition of two works in the “Best of Brighton Art Society” at Bayside City Council, Sandringham, “A Quiet Read” pastel , “Kenneth” acrylic on board, July 2005
• Best in Show – Highly Commended – “A Quiet Read” pastel, in Exhibition by Brighton Art Society, Exhibition of four works. November 2004
• Exhibition 4 works in the Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2004
. Exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, of 18 works, with one other Artist, opened by the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia; November 2003