Rob Pointon ROI British, b. 1982
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Rob Pointon’s paintings are full of movement, depth, and rich colour. Working mainly en plein air, he captures the atmosphere of city streets, landscapes, and interiors with bold brushwork and striking perspective. His distinctive approach to composition and light gives each piece a strong sense of place, drawing the viewer into the scene. From the energy of urban life to the quiet beauty of rural settings, his work reflects a keen observation of the world around him. Whether painting a bustling market, a sunlit canal, or a dramatic skyline, Rob’s art is immediate, expressive, and full of life. Explore his original paintings here.
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Works
Rob Pointon ROI British, b. 1982
Waiting at St PetersOil on Board46 x 60 cmCopyright The Artist£ 2,100.00BiographyBorn 1982, Rob Pointon has been painting since he was a child under the tutelage of his artist Grandmother, then, as an adult, graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Fine Art from Aberystwyth University before going on to study at The Royal Drawing School in London. Having been a full time professional artist since 2006, Rob’s skills have developed through his work on locations all around the UK and abroad. Originally from the Staffordshire moorlands Rob is now based in South Cheshire.
Rob paints entirely en plein air and has a particular interest in the use of multiple point perspective and movement within his paintings, evidenced strongly with his depiction of water and crowds.
As well as the RBSA, Rob is a member of MAFA (Manchester Academy of Fine Arts) and exhibits regularly in the ROI and NEAC exhibitions. Between 2016-2019 he is the International Artist in Residence for Manchester Airport, travelling to different direct destinations and bringing back exhibitions of work to be showcased in the terminals.
Education
- 2004 – 2005 ‘The Drawing Year’, Postgraduate, The Royal Drawing School, London
- 2001 – 2004 Fine Art BA (1st Class), University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Societies
- MAFA – Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (May 2016 -)
- RBSA – Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (Apr 2016 -)
- ROI – Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2019 -)
Relationship with The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI)
- Selected for Open section of Annual Exhibition in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
- 1st Prize, ROI Paint Live Competition, Dec 2018
- The Menena Joy Schwabe Memorial Award, ROI Annual Exhibition 2018
- Candidate for Associate Membership 2017
- Judges Commendation, ROI Paint Live Competition, Dec 2016
- Winsor & Newton Artist Award, 2nd Prize U35, ROI Annual Exhibition 2016
- 2nd Prize, ROI Paint Live Competition, Dec 2015
Recent Exhibitions
- SOLO - Ffin y Parc Gallery (2023)
- The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI 2022)
- SOLO - Paintings from a Residency with the Household Cavalry, Panter and Hall Gallery (2022)
- Ffin y Parc Gallery (2022)
- The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI 2021)
- ING Discerning Eye (2021)
- The British Plein Air Painters, The Mall Galleries (2021)
- A Fathers Perspective, The Upper House, Staffordshire (2018)
- SOLO - Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich (2017, 2018)
- SOLO - Mandell’s Gallery Norwich (2017) Exhibited with New English Art Club (2017)
- SOLO – Manchester Airport with Qatar Airways, The Hilton, Manchester (2016)
- SOLO – Urban Dynamism, Colourfield Gallery, Poynton (2016)
- Exhibited with New English Art Club (2016)
- SOLO – New York & Paris, The Upper House, Staffordshire (2016)
- SOLO – Manchester Airport Chinese New Year Exhibition with Cathay Pacific Airline (Feb 2016)
- Exhibited with New English Art Club (Haworth Prize), Mall Galleries, London (2015)
Public Collections
- Four oil paintings on permanent display at The Admirals House at The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich including a depiction of The Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames
- Two oil paintings in the collection at Weston Park, Shropshire
- 24’ x 6’ Oil Painting on permanent display in the Council Chamber, Stoke-on-Trent, commissioned to commemorate 100 years of the federation of the six towns
- Drawing in the personal archive of HRH The Prince of Wales
- Drawing in private collection of Duchess of Devonshire Chatsworth
Awards and Honours
- Official Artist at The First Birthday Parade of The New Reign, Trooping the Colour (2023)
- Official Artist during The Coronation of HRH King Charles III (2023)
- Official Artist during HRH King Charles III Presentation of new standard and colours, Tri-service event, Buckingham Palace (2023)
- Painting live during The Lord Mayors Banquet, The Guildhall, City of London (2022)
- Sketching live inside Westminster Hall during The Lying in State of HRH Queen Elizabeth II (2022)
- Overall Winner & Quick Draw 1st Prize, Art in the Open, Wexford (2022)
- Official Artist at The Platinum Jubilee, Trooping the Colour (2022)
- ING Discerning Eye, Judges Pick (Peter Brown) (2021)
- Painting live inside HRH Queen Elizabeth II Private Chambers during Trooping the Colour (Covid restricted) (2021)
- Painted Live at a Royal Gala Dinner to celebrate the conservation of The Painted Hall in Greenwich and discussed the painting with The Princess Royal at the end of the evening (2019)
- Elected Full Member of Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2019)
- 1st Prize, ROI Paint Live Competition, Dec 2018
- The Menena Joy Schwabe Memorial Award, ROI Annual Exhibition 2018
- Overall Winner, 1st Prize in Oils, Judges Commendation, Paint Out 2018
- Winsor & Newton Artist Award, 2nd Prize U35, ROI Annual Exhibition 2016
- Winner of the £4000 Haworth Prize, New English Art Club 2016
- 3rd Prize, Buxton Spa Prize, 2016
- 2nd Prize, ROI Paint Live Competition, Dec 2015
- 2nd Place People’s Choice, Buxton Spa Prize, 2015 Buxton Festival Choice Prize,
- Buxton Spa Prize, 2015
- 1st Prize Winner £1000, Staffordshire Open, Shire Hall Gallery (2014)
- Regional Artist Award £500, Halls Fine Art Open, Weston Park (Aug 2011)
- Visitors Choice Prize, Staffordshire Open, Shire Hall Gallery (2011)
- 24ft Oil Painting unveiled by HRH Prince of Wales to commemorate Stoke-on-Trent Centenary
- Open 09 1st Prize Winner, Newcastle Borough Museum & Art Gallery
- Young Artist Award from The National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (2006)
- Awarded Winsor & Newton Prize for British Museum work 2005
- Awarded Drawing Prize (Royal Drawing School) 2005
- Awarded bursary ‘The Drawing Year’ study at The Royal Drawing School 2004–05
Exhibitions-
Winter Exhibition 2022
10 Dec 2022 - 22 Feb 2023Our Winter Exhibition 2022 brings a fresh selection of artwork from Gallery artists and a few new faces including Linda Schwab, Louisa-Longstaff Scales, Robert Mead, Craig Jefferson and Laura Pedley.Read more
This will be our final exhibition of 2022, a chance to view some fantastic art in a welcoming space and help the Contemporary Six Team toast an exciting year. We would love you to join us. -
Northern Connections
29 Oct - 20 Nov 2022MICHAEL ASHCROFT - ANNE ASPINALL - ARTHUR BERRY HELEN CLAPCOTT - FLORIAN FOERSTER - JEAN HOBSON GEOFFREY KEY - NORMAN LONG - L.S LOWRY - IAN MOOD JEN ORPIN - ROB POINTON - ADAM RALSTON - STEVEN SMITH LIAM SPENCER - PETER STANAWAY -JO STANNESS - COLIN TAYLOR ALAN JAMES...Read more -
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Contemporary Six's ten-year anniversary 12 - 24 Dec 2020download e-catalogue Join us for the mixed exhibition which celebrates our ten-year anniversary — featuring new work from a wide range of artists, and a few surprises, too! preface All of the artworks in the show are available to purchase from 7:30pm on Friday 27 November online or over the...Read more -
An Unprecedented Year
A Solo Exhibition of New Paintings by Rob Pointon ROI 23 Oct - 6 Nov 2020DOWNLOAD THE EXHIBITION CATALOGUE Join us for the online-only preview from 7:30pm - 9:00pm on Friday 23 October, when all paintings will be available to purchase over the phone. As soon as the work goes live on our website, you will also be able to navigate the exhibition in a...Read more
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Winter Show 2019
Mixed work featuring brand new artists 7 Dec 2019 - 2 Jan 2020Save the Date for the Preview Weekend of our 2019 Winter Show from 12pm on Saturday 7th until 5pm on Sunday 8 December 2019.Read more
With brand new work from Gallery-artists Rob Pointon, Peter Stanaway, David Bez, Kate Collins, and others, join us for the festivities; walls on both floors of the Gallery will be freshly hung with paintings from some of the leading artists in the region.
As part of our Winter Show, we are proud to announce the inclusion of some beautiful plein air and interior works by Peter Brown ROI NEAC; the ceramics of multi-award winning potter Phil Rogers; the magical tempera landscapes of Helen Clapcott; and two electric abstracts from one of Britain's most important exponents of abstract art: Sir Terry Frost RA. -
The Northern Boys
An exhibition celebrating plein air painting 6 - 21 Apr 2019Have you looked out from a Manchester tram to see a figure before an easel, stooped under an umbrella, painting furiously in the driving rain? Chances are, you’ve seen one of The Northern Boys — the distinguished outdoor painting group — nine of the North’s finest plein air painters, dedicated...Read more -
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea
6 - 10 Mar 2019We'll be at the The Affordable Art Fair, UK next month for our first ever fair outside of Manchester. If you live in or near London, or just happen to be in the capital between 6 - 10 March, get in touch and we can provide you with a complimentary...Read more
FAQsBorn in 1982, Rob has painted since he was a child under the tutelage of his artist grandmother. He attended Aberystwyth University, graduating with first class honours, before winning a bursary to study at the Royal Drawing School in London. On graduation in 2005, he was awarded the school’s Drawing Prize. He has enjoyed an increasingly successful career as a professional artist ever since. He has won major plein air competitions including “Art in the Open” in Ireland in 2022 and “Paint Annapolis” in the US in 2024.
Based in South Cheshire, Rob travels widely in search of inspiration and can often be spotted painting in the streets of our major cities. His commissions have taken him all over the world, a residency with Manchester Airport saw him outside Beijing painting on the Great Wall of China.
His reputation for capturing live formal occasions was key to his residency with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, but has also led him to record the Royal Gala Dinner to celebrate the conservation of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich. HM the King when the Prince of Wales unveiled a 24-foot oil painting by Rob in the Council Chamber, Stoke on Trent, commissioned to commemorate 100 years of the federation of the six towns.
His work from the Royal Drawing School was acquired by HM The King when Prince of Wales and is held in his private collection. Rob’s work also hangs in the permanent collection of the Admiral’s House at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich; Chatsworth House, Bakewell; Weston Park, Shropshire; and The Household Cavalry’s Hyde Park Barracks. Rob is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, and the British Plein Air Painters Group.
Rob is known for his distinctive style. The urban scenes of daily routines are infused with energy and dynamism, often characterised by a spontaneity that captures the essence of his subjects.
An advocate of working en plein air, Rob immerses himself in the outdoor environment no matter the weather or time of day, allowing the natural world to apprise his paintings. It is this direct engagement with the landscape that enables him to capture not only the play of light and atmosphere but also the transient movement of the scene in real time, creating an immediacy and freshness in his works.
A hallmark of Rob's approach is his unique use of perspective, often employing a multi-point perspective weaving complex, yet harmonious views into a single composition. Through this masterful manipulation of perspective and composition, his work captures the intersection of time, movement, and light, creating a narrative that feels both personal and universally resonant. Rob says he "always tries to paint urgently and strives towards the finish line, there's a lot of expression in the brush strokes. The transient nature of weather and people moving pushes you on and makes you apply the paint quickly. You get some nice gestures coming through." Rob is hesitant to attach a label to his visual style, instead, he refers to it as a result of his "cocktail of influences." Some of his compositions of people have echoes of time-lapse photography, the final painting a record of hours of movement and daily life in that spot at those points in time.
Rob Pointon paints both in the UK and abroad, drawing inspiration from a variety of locations. While much of his work captures urban scenes and cityscapes, he also explores rural landscapes and quieter, more intimate settings. Whether painting busy streets or tranquil countryside, he seeks to convey the unique energy of each place.
Yes, you can purchase Rob's paintings. At Contemporary Six, we always have a selection of works in size, price, and subject. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are looking for something particular or require any further help.
