32 Facts About Markey Robinson

David Marcus Robinson was an Irish painter and sculptor with a primitive representational style.

Markey Robinson was born on 7 February 1918 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the son of a house painter.

Markey Robinson began drawing at an early age and preferred it to playing outdoors with other children.

Markey Robinson's talents were first recognised whilst at Perth Street School were his teacher suggested he received artistic training.

Unfortunately due to financial constraints this was not possible so Markey Robinson held a succession of menial jobs such as dish-washer and pearl-diver until, the age of twenty when he began an apprenticeship in welding.

Markey Robinson trained for a short time at Belfast School of Art in the late 1930s and early 1940s, working for a time with Sidney Smith who held a studio on Howard Street.

Markey Robinson was seen to be a mysterious character who frequently disappeared for long periods of time, only to re-appear with numerous completed paintings.

Markey Robinson held a studio on the Crumlin Road for a number of years.

Markey Robinson entered two works to the Civil Defence Art Exhibition in 1943.

Markey Robinson travelled extensively in his time as a merchant seaman, visiting South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Markey Robinson spent time with Native Americans in Canada and travelled on the River Plate and on the Amazon.

Markey Robinson took his family across Europe and spent some time in Paris where he befriended Raoul Dufy and he lived in Spain on the same street as Joan Miro.

Markey Robinson was a great believer that you couldn't be called an artist until you had visited Paris.

The gallery owner and dealer Hugh Charlton who was amongst the earliest to recognise Markey Robinson's worth commented on his internationalism a few days before the artist's death:.

Markey Robinson showed one painting, simply entitled Painting in the inaugural Irish Exhibition of Living Art in the 1940s.

The exhibition was visited by the cast of Sadlers Wells Opera Company, when the mezza-soprano singer Anna Pollak, who, like Markey Robinson had no formal training, purchased one of his works.

Markey Robinson returned to the CEMA Gallery in the following year where he showed street scenes, portraits, and landscapes.

Markey Robinson arranged an exhibition of Ulster peasant art at Mills and Gray's Gallery on Wellington Street in Belfast in November 1948.

Markey Robinson held an exhibition in the unconventional surrounds of Cottar's Kitchen, a cafe on Belfast's Donegall Square in 1950.

Markey Robinson showed at the McNiece Gallery, Belfast in 1955 and at Robinson and Cleaver's Gallery in 1956.

Markey Robinson exhibited extensively throughout the sixties with solo exhibitions at the Piccolo Gallery in 1961, Furnishings Expert Limited, Belfast and at the Magee Gallery on Donegall Square, both in 1963.

When Markey Robinson returned to Belfast in the following year he found the civil disturbances too much to process so he relocated to Dublin.

Markey Robinson took his paintings across to the UK with exhibitions in the Attic Gallery, Cardiff and at the Redfern Gallery, London, and his work was displayed in the Parisian Eleves Gallery.

Markey Robinson's works do not have a contrived 'finished' appearance.

Markey Robinson showed in Philadelphia with a one-man exhibition at Villanova University in 1990.

Markey Robinson returned to his Belfast roots in 1996, making his home at Tudor Place off the Crumlin Road where he was to die just three years later.

Markey Robinson died at his home in Belfast on 28 January 1999, aged 80.

Markey Robinson was survived by two daughters, an ex-wife, and three grandchildren.

Markey Robinson's works were often subject to squabbles amongst gallery owners over who had the right to show his works.

Markey Robinson was a shy and gentle character, who had little if any interest in the business of art, the dealer system or indeed in the financial benefits of his work.

Markey Robinson spurned publicity and rarely attended opening nights or allowed his photo to be taken.

Markey Robinson painted for himself and for those who appreciated his work.