Adam Robson

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia that anyone can edit

Adam Robson, author, artist, international rugby player, and teacher, was born on the 16th of August, 1928 at Hawick. His father was John Robson of that town, where Adam grew up, but his mother was a Yell woman, Margaret Moar (b. Cullivoe, 1892). Robson was a regular visitor to Shetland during his life.

Robson studied at Edinburgh School of Art and became a member of the Scottish Society of Artists in 1957. He exhibited his work regularly with the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Scottish Watercolourists. He worked with oils as well as watercolours, favouring the landscapes of his own Border region as well as the wilder Shetland coastal scenes, but it is perhaps the distinctive draftmanship of his drawings which is most memorable. He also designed several stained-glass windows.

Robson took up a teaching appointment at Kirkcaldy High School but moved to Dollar Academy as art teacher in 1956. He was head of art from 1968 until his retirement 20 years later. During his time at Dollar he was also the first president of the Scottish Schools Rugby Union. He died on March 16th, 2007, at Dollar.

Adam Robson's love for Shetland is expressed in many works of art, and in the books:

Saga of a Ship; the Earl of Zetland, 1982

Saga of the Earls : Earl of Zetland I 1877-1950, Earl of Zetland II 1939- , 2002