About the Artist
Robin Roberts
I have a passion to paint and a calling from God to pursue my passion.
Capturing the beauty of God's creation.
Robin Roberts grew up in Heath, Ohio, where his earliest inspirations came from exploring the woods, lakes, creeks, and fields around his grandparents’ homes. His deep connection to the natural world, combined with an appreciation for history, architecture, and regional culture, continues to inform and shape his creative process. Today, those experiences resonate through his watercolor paintings, which capture both the beauty and spirit of place.
Robin earned a degree in Visual Communications from Ashland College (now Ashland University), where he met his wife, Lanie. He has further developed his craft through workshops with accomplished artists such as Andy Evansen and John Lasater, as well as through ongoing study of both Old Masters and contemporary painters.
Recognized for his powerful plein air landscapes in watercolor and oil, Robin paints both on location and in the studio. Based in Ashland, Ohio, he travels widely to participate in plein air competitions across the country, including events in Easton, MD; Central Florida; Knoxville, TN; and throughout Ohio and neighboring states.
His work has received numerous honors, including Best in Show at the Ohio Plein Air Society exhibition Impressions en Plein Air at the Canton Museum of Art, the Judges Award at the 2024 Easton Plein Air competition for his grayscale painting Abandoned, and Best in Watercolor at The May Show at the Mansfield Art Center. Robin also received Best in Show at the Ohio Plein Air Society exhibition in Zanesville, Ohio, for his watercolor Sheep Pasture, and was recently accepted into the prestigious American Impressionist National Show at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.
In addition to painting, Robin shares his expertise by teaching and demonstrating his watercolor techniques. His work can be viewed by appointment at his home studio, at the Hayley Gallery in New Albany, Ohio, and at the Welsh Hills Inn’s Artisan Shop in Granville, Ohio. Paintings are also available online at robinrobertsfineart.com and through his social media under #RobinRobertsFineArt.
“My goal is to capture the essence of a scene and make viewers feel they can step in and understand its mood and beauty.” – Robin Roberts
Education:
Ashland University ~ Ashland, Ohio 1979 - 1983
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh ~ Pittsburgh, PA 1981 - 1982
Informal Education:
Andy Evansen Watercolor Workshop, Riverside Art Workshops, Hudson Valley of NY - 2025
Joshua Been, Plein Air to Studio workshop ~ Worthington, OH – 2018
John Porter Lasater, Plein Air workshop ~ Worthington, OH - 2016
Select Exhibitions and Events:
Sedona Plein Air Festival ~ Sedona, AZ, Oct. 2026
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ 2026 Annual Competition ~ Akron, OH, Sept. 2026
Adirondack Plein Air Festival ~ Saranac lake, NY, Aug. 2026
Plein Air Easton Competition ~ Easton, MD, July 2026
Paint Grand Traverse ~ Traverse City, MI, June 2026
Annapolis Plein Air ~ Annapolis, MD, June 2026
The Salon Art Prize ~ Top Finalist for The Bevin Place ~ April 2025
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition – First Place in La Petite ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2026
Lighthouse Plein Air Festival ~ Tequesta, FL, March 2026
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational ~ Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, Feb. 2026
Sedona Plein Air Festival ~ Awarded Best Architecture ~ Sedona, AZ, Oct. 2025
Bluff Strokes Plein Air Festival ~ Dubuque, Iowa, Sept. 2025
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ Award of Excellence ~ 2025 Annual Competition ~ Millersburg, OH, Sept. 2025
Adirondack Plein Air Festival ~ Awarded Adirondack Daily Enterprise Award ~ Saranac lake, NY, Aug. 2025
Plein Air Easton Competition ~ Easton, MD, July 2025
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2025
Lighthouse Plein Air Competition ~ Juniper Beach, FL, March 2025
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational, Cover artist for 2025 ~Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, March 2025
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ Honorable Mention & First Place Quick Paint ~ 2023 Annual Competition ~ Mansfield, OH, Sept. 2023
Adirondack Plein Air Festival ~ Saranac lake, NY, Aug. 2024
Plein Air Easton Competition ~ Judges Award, Easton, MD, July 2024
American Impressionist Society – Accepted to the Associate online Exhibit ~ April 2024
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2024
Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition, DelCambre Award for Best Shrimp Boat ~ New Iberia, LA, March 2024
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational, Chosen as cover artist for 2025 ~Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, March 2024
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ Best of Show for Sheep Pasture ~ 2023/24 Show, "Ohio's Changing Season’s" ~ Zanesville Museum of Art
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ Honorable Mention & First Place Quick Paint ~ 2023 Annual Competition ~ Mansfield, OH, Sept. 2023
Adirondack Plein Air Festival ~ Saranac lake, NY, Aug. 2023
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Competition ~ Traverse City, MI, June. 2023
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition – Best Landscape Award ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2023
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational ~Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, Feb. 2023
Cape Ann Plein Air Competition ~ Gloucester, MA, Oct. 2022
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ 2022 Annual Competition ~ Mansfield, OH, Sept. 2022
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Competition ~ Traverse City, MI, Aug. 2022
Plein Air New Bern Competition – People's Choice Award and 2nd Place in the Quick Paint ~ New Bern, NC, May 2022
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition – Best Landscape Award ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2022
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational ~Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, Feb. 2022
Cape Ann Plein Air Competition ~ Gloucester, MA, Oct. 2021
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ 2021 Annual Competition Award of Excellence, ~ Columbus, OH, Sept. 2021
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Competition ~ Traverse City, MI, Aug. 2021
Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition ~ Cumberland, MD, June 2021
Artists on Location Plein Air Competition ~ Knoxville, TN, April 2021
Wekiva Plein Air Paint Out Invitational ~Wekiva Island, North Orlando, FL, Feb. 2021
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ 2020 Annual Competition – Award of Excellence ~ Columbus, OH, Sept. 2020
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Competition – Best of Show for Cherry, Cherry ~ Traverse City, MI, Aug. 2020
Bryn Du Art Show ~ Bryn Du Mansion in Granville, OH, March 2020
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ 2017 Annual Competition - 2nd Place & Artists Choice Award ~ Bay Village, OH, Sept. 2017
Ohio Plein Air Society ~ Best of the Ohio Plein Air Society, 3rd Place ~ Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH, March - June 2017
Oil Painters of America, Eastern Regional ~ Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, Sept-Oct. 2016
Publications:
Plein Air Magazine article, Dec. 2017 issue, Handling the Competitive Side of Plein Air Events
Affiliations:
Ohio Plein Air Society
Ohio Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
American Impressionist Society
