ROBIN JOHN ELVIN

Born in Birmingham in 1957, and subsequently raised in rural West Norfolk. He was considered a child prodigy, by the age of five he had managed to teach himself to paint in oils, and within a few years was regularly selling his pictures. After eagerly accepting a place at art college, Robin was asked to leave when it became apparent that he was more accomplished than his tutors, consequently he received little, if any formal training.

Disillusioned, he worked as a builders labourer until a local businessman offered him a studio and paid him to produce enough pictures to hold his first exhibition. However this was not without its drawbacks, Robin was a promising boxer, and was made to give up the sport when it was feared that he might damage his hands.

It proved to be worth the sacrifice, the exhibition sold out on the first day. The transition from hod-carrier to artist attracted television and media exposure, which among other things led to a solo exhibition of his work at the exclusive Fortnum and Masons Piccadilly store.

Robin was the only artist to have an exhibition at this prestigious venue in the twentieth century. It was around this time that he was among the first artists to portray the then Lady Dianna Spencer and Prince Charles just before the wedding. Three Robin Elvin pictures are included in the Royal Collection.

An association with the great Muhammad Ali resulted in some of Robin’s best work,

 In 1995 Robin was approached by the Louisiana State Musical Heritage commission and asked to do a series of paintings depicting the legendary blues men. This three-year project resulted in a touring exhibition, which was viewed throughout the United States, receiving critical acclaim. The project proved to be the catalyst for several openings, guitar legend Walter Trout saw Robin’s work and commissioned him to design and produce the entire artwork for his first live album Face the Music.

In the same year he painted a Jimi Hendrix memorial album cover Blue Haze, his most recent album cover was for young guitar virtuoso Danny Bryant’s album ‘Shadows Passed’.

In 2002 Robin was approached by "Hotbed Media" to take part in a pilot programme for a new art series for the BBC called ‘Painting Stars’ where he and two other artists were filmed painting opera diva Lesley Garrett at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The programme was presented by Lisa Tarbuck. Although this programme was shelved, , it proved to be the catalyst for the hugely popular BBC series Star Portraits with Rolf Harris. Robin featured in the first programme where he painted Michael Parkinson. Robin's picture caused an unprecedented reaction, and has raised his profile and demand for his work to monumental levels.

He received over 3,000 commission requests in the first week after the programmes screening! The demand is ever increasing. Although his schedule only permits him to paint a limited number of private commissions every year. He is currently painting portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.