Rob Shaw

Rob Shaw was born in Ripley, Derbyshire in 1974. After studying for an HND in Spatial Design at Newcastle College of Art he went to Middlesbrough University and graduated in 1998 with a First Class Honours degree in Interior Architecture and Design. In 2006, having worked for several years as a Design Project Manager while enjoying growing success with his painting, he left his job to become a full-time professional artist.

in recent years, Rob has painted a wide range of subjects. His fascination for architecture has led him to make a series of spectacular cityscapes based in cities around the world. His painting ‘London from St Paul’s with White Van’ was hung at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2012. Another London cityscape featuring Wren’s iconic cathedral, ‘St. Paul’s London, Early Morning Light’ was selected for the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2013.

A self-taught painter, Rob began painting when his family moved to Boulby, overlooking Staithes, in 1994. The village, with its clusters of cottages balanced precariously against the elements, is the source of his inspiration. He constantly sought new ways to depict the buildings and their ever shifting relationship with the winds, the tides, the storms and the light that envelop them. His work exploits the variety of perspective offered by cliff top views and the winding paths climbing up and beyond the cottages. Once seen these paintings are rarely forgotten but become ingrained in the viewer’s memory of the unique and resolute beauty of this place.

The breakwaters at Staithes continually resisting the assault of waves and storms have particularly inspired him as have the traditional boats along the North East coast.

Gallery

Three blue and white mackerel, expressively painted, glide across an olive green background.

A lively and expressive painting of a yellow octopus against a light blue background.

An atmospheric and expressively painted view of the familiar Cowbar nab from the scar in shades of olive brown and blue.

A dramatic side on prawn expressively painted against a black background.

Three expressively painted mackerel swim across a grey green background.

A vibrant orange crayfish expressively painted on a contrasting blue background.

A striking, expressive interpretation of a lobster painted in impasto on a sky blue background.

An abstracted interpretation of a lobster expressively painted with red and blue impasto paint on grey background.

A lively interpretation of a lobster expressively painted on an aqueous grey/ green background.

An expressive view looking towards the sea wall and cottages of Staithes from the Cowbar side of the beck.

A large, expressively painted lobster on a blue/ grey background.

Vibrant, expressive interpretation of Staithes sea wall and cottages dominated by sky blue sea and sky with a traditional fishing boat in the foreground.

A vibrant orange painting of a prawn on a flat cerulean blue background.

Large expressive painting of a rough sea merging with a stormy sky, a hint of sun trying to emerge in the right hand corner.

Expressive painting of lobster on a blue background.

An expressive, vibrant painting of a crab on a sky blue background.

An expressive oil painting of a lobster on a pale blue background.

Large panoramic painting depicting Staithes cottages surrounded by a blue sea with white fishing boats

Square painting of an orange and turquoise octopus floating on a black background.

Octopus painted loosely in shades of pink and orange floating on black background.