Robyn Stanton Werkhoven commenced her career as a Graphic Designer in Sydney in the seventies, attended Randwick Graphic Design College.
Specialising in silk screen designs for clothing and textiles, designing for various Sydney clothing boutiques and later opened her own business “Armin Design” in Wollongong
Robyn, who created “Studio La Primitive” with artist Eric Werkhoven, has been involved in the visual arts for many years– from Performance/event art, painting, sculpture, jewellery design and management of galleries, including establishing Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle, with Diana Middleby 2003
The past twenty years Robyn has lived and worked as a professional artist in the Hunter Valley, participating in over 80 exhibitions, with galleries exhibiting her work in Newcastle, Melbourne and Sydney. Also her work is represented in France and the Netherlands, & private collections in Europe and USA.
Her paintings are usually contemporary figurative, with the use of vivid colour and strong line.
“The love of drawing and painting the human figure led me to exploring and expressing the dynamic and delicate nuances of the human form and psyche.”
Preferred medium oil / acrylic on canvas or board.
Portraiture is a keen interest, with celebrities and dignitaries included in her portfolio: – lawyer Leigh Johnson, actor / film producer Michael Winchester, T.V./ film actress Rhiana Griffith, and Margaret Sivyer OAM and the late Dr. William Bowmore OA, OBE, patrons of the arts, Honourable Mahla Pearlman AO, Sir Kenneth Gillespie, retired international Ballet Dancer short listed for 2006 Portia Geach Award.
Four times portraits have been short listed for the Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture, in 2004 Robyn was a guest speaker, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, to talk about her work and approach to portraiture.
Robyn was one of nine artists, who painted local Hunter identities for the National Heritage Trust Project, Maitland 2006 – 2008.
“Landscape 128 Images” was short listed for the Country Energy Landscape Prize 2007.
“CHINA – 128 IMAGES”” was selected for the Australian / Chinese Olympic Exhibition “From Mao to Now”, Newington Armory Gallery, Olympic Park Sydney 2008.