The Librarian’s Book

This piece is inspired by the concept of the traveling library, widely attributed to Samuel Brown in Scotland in the early 1800s. These traveling libraries would be large boxes which would open to reveal the books on display. The piece depicts books stacked on a shelf, encapsulating the idea of knowledge held within a box. The vintage box itself was passed down to the artist from one of his teachers, Terence Dalley.

Stuart Robertson was born in Kent, UK in 1962 and moved to London in 1981. His education includes his studies at two prominent art academies, Maidstone and Wimbledon School of Art. In addition to his schooling, he also worked as an illustrator undertaking many notable commissions for commercial publications including Penguin Random House, The New Scientist, and The Times Publications.

In 1984, Stuart visited India where he travelled extensively, working on-site in watercolour and pen and ink. Stuart relocated to New Delhi in 1989 to take up the position of Head of Illustration at The Times of India and had three major solo shows during this time at The British Council and The Art Today Gallery.

Having returned to London in 1996, he became a member of the Royal Watercolour Society and now exhibits regularly at The Bankside and Piers Feetham Gallery in the UK. Having joined Kostuik Gallery in 2022, he currently works and resides in Vancouver, BC.