Robbie Bushe

Artist Biography

'The thing that motivates me to draw and paint is a desire to make pictures (as opposed to making art). It is also desirable for me that the pictures should stimulate emotionally, inform the viewer about a state of mind and give pleasure in their application and handling. I don't think that it is necessary to make narrative paintings in order to do these things and in my pictures, quite often the narrative element is no more than an afterthought.' Robbie Bushe 2014

Born 1964, Liverpool. (moved to Aberdeen in 1969).

Further Education

1989- 1990: Postgraduate Diploma. Painting, Edinburgh College of Art

1985-89, Drawing and Painting, BA (Hons) 2,1, Edinburgh College of Art

1984-85, HNC Graphic Design, Aberdeen College of Commerce (Now Aberdeen College)

Selected Exhibitions

Selected Exhibtions

2016

3 Person exhibition with Kate Downie and Ronald Plowman, Tatha Gallery, Newport on Tay, Fifie

W Gordon Smith Prize exhibition, Dovecot Gallery, Edinburgh

Converge, Visual Arts Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh

2015

National Open Art exhibtion, Royal College of Art, London and Pallant House Gallery Chichester

Society of Scottish Artists, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh

VAS:T, Visual Arts Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh

Royal Scottish Society of Artists In Watercolour, National Galleries of Scotland

2015, 2014, 2011, 2008, 1999, 97, 96, 93, 92, 91 - Royal Scottish Academy, Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh.

2012 - Solo Show, St Margaret House, Edinburgh

2011 - Solo Show, Foyer Gallery, Aberdeen

2008 - Solo Show, Otter Gallery, University of Chichester

2006

Sarah Wiseman Gallery Oxford.

Affordable Art Fair, Bristol

2005

Group Show, John Martin Gallery, London

National Open Art, Chichester Festival Theatre

2004

Directors Choice, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh

AAF Contemporary Art Fair New York, USA

1999

Hinterland, curated touring print exhibition, Pier Arts Centre, Orkney, Peacock Visual Arts , Aberdeen and Musee des Beaux-Arts, Clermont Ferrand, France

1998

Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen

3 Scottish Artists, John Martin Gallery, London

1997 - Morrison Portrait Award, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

1996 - Contemporary Scottish Art. 47 Gallery, London

1995 - Bruton Gallery , Bath

1994

Solo Show, Peacock Printmakers, Aberdeen

Solo Show, Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

1994, 93, 91, 89

Contemporary Arts Society, Art Market, Smith Galleries London.

1992

Solo Show, Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

150 years at the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh.

16 Artistes Francois et Ecossais, Espace Languedoc-Rousillon, Montpellier, France.

Barbara Rae's Artist's Choice, William Jackson Gallery, London

1991 - Solo Show, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

1990

Solo Show, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

Selkirk Arts Centre, Selkirk, Scottish Borders.

1994

Summer Show, Thackeray Gallery. London.

1993

June Redfern's Artist's Choice, Bohun Gallery, Henley on Thames.

Eight Scottish Artists, Thompson's Gallery, London.

Morrison Portrait Competition Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy

Awards, Prizes and Publications

1991

John Kinross Scholarship exhibition, Royal Scottish Adademy

Society of Scottish Artists, Centenary Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy.

2016: W Gordon Smith Award (Inaugural) – Ist Prize £10,000. Dovecot Gallery, Infirmary Street Edinburgh

2015: The Turtleton Trust Scottish Art Prize, National Open Art Competition, Royal College of Art and Pallant House Gallery

2015: Featured Artist in ‘The Drawing Paper 8’ (https://issuu.com/mikecarney/docs/dp8_singles_issuu) editied collaboratively by Amanda Ravetz, (Senior Research Fellow in Practice-as-Research, MIRIAD), Kate Genever and Anne Douglas. Drawing Paper is a not for profit newspaper based publication concerned solely with drawing, curated, designed and published in Liverpool UK by Mike Carney and Jon Barraclough. (www.drawing-paper.tumblr.com)

1997, Morrison Portrait Award, Runner up, Royal Scottish Academy

1996, The Guthrie Award, Royal Scottish Academy, Annual Exhibition

1993, The Latimar Award, Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition

1992, The Saltire Society Purchase Prize, Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition.

1991, The Elizabeth Greenshields Award, (Canada)

1990, John Kinross Travelling Scholarship to Florence

1989, Chambers Bursary, Royal Scottish Academy, Student Competition

Professional Experience

2013- present:

President Visual Arts Scotland (www.visualartsscotland.org). Devised and co-curated VAS:T (2015), Converge (2016) and FLY (Dec 2016) including invited artists Alice Kettle, Rachel Mclean and Steven McIver, the International Cordis Award for Tapestry and a collaboration with Craft Scotland.

2011 – present: Short Courses Organiser, Art and Design, University of Edinburgh

2007 – 2011: Lifelong Learning Coordinator, Edinburgh College of Art

2008, 2005: 2004, 2002 (summers), Invited Artist, Cyprus College of Art

2005 – 2006: Fine Art Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University

2004: Fine Art Lecturer, Kent Institute of Art and Design (Now UCA)

1999 – 2003: Head of Fine Art, University of Chichester

1991 – 1999: Fine Art Lecturer, Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen

1990-1991: Drawing tutor, Edinburgh College of Art.