Sir Robin Philipson PPRSA 1916-1992

Sir Robin Philipson died peacefully on 26th May, 1992, aged 75 years at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Robin Philipson was born in Broughton-on Furness in 1916 and was educated at Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh College of Art.

He served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India and Burma during the Second World War. After the War he returned to Edinburgh joining the Staff of the College of Art in 1947, and throughout the following years became an outstanding figure on the Scottish art scene.

As a teacher and eventually Head of the School of Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, and as a valued member of
numerous committees he was above all a practising painter, who in spite of the many demands upon his time was immensely prolific and produced throughouthis life a remarkable and original body of work.

Robin Philipson was elected an Associate of the Academy in 1952, became a Royal Scottish Academician in 1962, was elected Secretary in 1969 and became President in 1973, holding that office as a most
distinguished President until his retiral in 1983. He was devoted to the Academy and during his ten years in office as President witnessed
many important events and developments.

The RSA Student Exhibition was first held in the RSA Galleries in 1976, the first of the Sir William Gillies Memorial Lectures came into being in 1978, and the inauguration of the John Kinross Scholarships took place in 1981. On three separate occasions Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visited the Academy; in 1973; in 1976, the year of the 150th Anniversary Exhibition and Celebrations; and again in 1981.

Robin Philipson was knighted in 1976 and received several honorary awards from Scottish Universities. He was awarded Commander de l'Ordre du Merit de la Republique Francaise and served on the Royal Fine Art Commission from 1965 until 1980. He received the William Thynne Scholarship from the English Speaking Union to visit South Africa and Kenya in 1976, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1978.

He was a member of the Scottish Advisory Committee of the British
Council and a Council memberof the Edinburgh Festival Society. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in London in 1973 and became a Royal Academician in 1981.

As a member of the Society of Scottish Artists and the Royal Scottish Society of painters in watercolours he worked most conscientously and vigorously for the welfare and promotion of these and other institutions concerned with the living arts throughout his lifetime.

As a painter Sir Robin Philipson’s contribution to Scottish painting has been immense. In his early years he was much impressed and influenced by Kokoschka, the Austrian Expressionist and this was to prove crucial to his development.

He progressed through many themes in his work and developed his distinctly personal style freed from the Kokoschka influence, with Cockfights, Rose Windows, Altars and Cathedrals, Crucifixions, the 1914-1918 War Series, the conflict of Black and White, and latterly the grand and sumptuous renderings of Poppies.

It was a fitting tribute that in 1989 a major retrospective exhibition of his work was held in the Edinburgh College of Art for the Edinburgh
nternational Festival. As a person, Sir Robin Philioson was
possessed of a youthful exuberance and great charm.

Sartorially elegant, an engaging conversationalist, he was the kindest and most hospitable man with an abundant enthusiasm for all things to do with the creative spirit. Often controversial with ideas he always endeavoured to be encouraging and stimulating with students, colleagues and friends alike.

His mischievious sense of humour helped to sustain him through his
frequent and difficult periods of ill-health and at these times he demonstrated great courage in spite of everything.

As a teacher at the Edinburghg College of Art he will be remembered as a stimulating, and often strict tutor, encouraging students to develop their own ideas whils at the same time ensuring that they appplied themselves to the basics technical skills of their craft, particularly when these skills were threatened by trends of fashion.

He retired from the College as Head of the School of Drawing and Painting in 1982 and worked at his easel constantly until he was admitted to hospital for what was to be the last time on 17th April.

Sir Robin Philipson will be sorely missing but leaves through his work a grand legacy for our appreciation and enjoyment for evermore. He is survived by his wife Diana and their three children Jasper, Rebecca and Anthony who added a whole new dimension to his life and to whom he was devoted.

RSA Obituary by W.J.L.B. RSA. Transcribed from the 1992 RSA Annual Report