About The Artist

Robyn Stanton Werkhoven was born in Penrith, NSW Australia in 1952. From the early age of eleven years old when she received a set of oil paints and brushes, Robyn has loved the world of Art. Commencing her career as a Graphic Designer in Sydney, Australia in the seventies. Specialising in silk screen designs for clothing and textiles, designing for Sydney clothing boutiques and later opened her own business “Armin Designs” in Wollongong. Robyn, who created “Studio La Primitive” with artist Eric Werkhoven, has been involved in the visual arts for many years– including: performance/event art, painting, sculpture, jewellery design and management of galleries. Establishing Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle, as co-director with Diana Middleby in 2003. The past twenty years Robyn has lived and worked as a professional artist in the Hunter Valley, participating in over 90 exhibitions, with many galleries exhibiting her work in Newcastle, Melbourne and Sydney. Her work is represented: Netherlands & private collections in Europe. Portraiture is a keen interest, with celebrities and dignitaries included in her portfolio such as: Michael Winchester actor / film producer, Rhianna Griffith film actress / artist, and Margaret Sivyer OAM and the late Dr. William Bowmore OA, OBE, patrons of the arts, Honourable Mahla Pearlman AO, the late Sir Kenneth Gillespie, international Ballet Dancer short listed for 2006 Portia Geach Award. Her portrait of Jenny Kee, iconic fashion designer was a Finalist in the Portia Geach Award for Portraiture 2012 Five times portraits have been short listed for the Portia Geach Memorial Award for Portraiture and in 2004 & 2011 has been a guest speaker, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, to talk about her work and approach to portraiture and painting celebrities. Robyn was one of nine artists, who painted portraits of local Hunter identities for the National Heritage Trust Project, Maitland, 2006 - 2008. Since November 2009 Robyn is an exhibiting member with Portrait Artists Australia. In 2007 Robyn’s painting “Landscape 128 Images” was short listed for the Country Energy Landscape Prize. “CHINA – 128 Images” was selected for the Australian / Chinese Olympic Exhibition “From Mao to Now”, held at Newington Armory Gallery, Olympic Park Sydney 2008. In 2009-10 Robyn & Eric Werkhoven held successful collaborative exhibitions in Australia and their designs were chosen with 15 world artists for T-SHIRT CULT Art /Fashion Exhibition, Basel, Switzerland 2010. Robyn exhibited works in Portrait Artists Australia “Face of Australia” Exhibition at Sydney Parliament House 2011 and in “The Whole Worlds a Stage” in Melbourne. Robyn’s portraiture will be featured in the Portrait Artists Australia Book- THE ARTISTS BOOK - launched in April 2012 at the Art House Hotel, Sydney. In 2011 Robyn and Eric Werkhoven presented a major exhibition of collaborative works at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland NSW. Recently Robyn & Eric curated a challenging group exhibition – Preparation For The Final Journey at Newcastle Art Space Gallery In 2012 more exhibitions are planned – Kaleidoscope Gallery Sydney and “A Fine Line Between Pleasure & Pain” at Newcastle Art Space Gallery. “The development and success of the collaborative drawing and painting with Eric Werkhoven has been a main high light of my artistic career.” There are future plans for exhibitions in Europe and USA. WEB SITE: www.studiolaprimitive.com Phone: 49389572 Mail: 32 Durham Rd East Gresford 2311 NSW Email: werkhovenr@bigpond.com werkhovene@gmail.com