Lorraine Robson
Lorraine Robson: Artist Biography
Lorraine Robson has shaped a distinguished career from her studio in Scotland, creating captivating sculpture and ceramics. An alumna of the Edinburgh College of Art, Lorraine is celebrated for bridging ancient craftsmanship and new technology with a bold, contemporary vision.
Her hand-built ceramics dating back to 1995 are a testament to her profound understanding of form. Often rooted in the classic vessel, these non-functional works draw from a vast historical and cultural tapestry. Lorraine meticulously combines ancient techniques like coiling, pinching, and slab construction with studio-made plaster mould slip-casting to achieve her unique sculptural and formal language.
Building on her sculpture background recent relief and sculptural works, inspired by visits to Outer Hebrides beaches and underwater Indian Ocean safaris are wall hung or plinth based using Ceramic, fabric formed casting, executed clay slip, in alpha plaster or cold cast resin from bespoke silicon and plaster moulds direct from nature. The meticulously designed motifs from drawings, photographs and digitally altered images.
Sculpture and wall relief panels are deliberately abstract in nature but always reference the objects and ideas that inform the work. “I strive to balance recognisable imagery in the abstraction to suggest mood or themes”
International Acclaim & Recognition
Lorraine’s work has garnered international distinction. She has proudly represented the UK in prestigious ceramic competitions across Austria, Taiwan, Croatia, and the USA. Her excellence was recognized by the Crafts Council, leading to her selection to promote contemporary UK craft for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Her work is held in their permanent collection at the Ambassador's residence in Islamabad.
Beyond the studio, Lorraine has been deeply committed to public engagement and art education over many years, having led numerous residencies in Scottish schools, museums, and communities. Her installation work, supported by National Lottery funding via Creative Scotland, was prominently featured at Craft Council Collect Open 2020 and later in the SSA 130 years exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Professional memberships of the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA), Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) and Axis Web.
Lived Experience
Working from a purpose-built studio in West Lothian, Scotland, I have spent over three decades developing a sculptural practice that exists in constant dialogue with the natural world. My work explores the interplay between the structural and the organic, translating the rugged motifs of the Scottish landscape—the ocean, the coastline, and the land—into enduring ceramic and sculptural forms.
My artistic identity is rooted in a childhood where the technical and the lyrical were intertwined. Raised by an electrician and a typist, I grew up in a home where fixing things was a way of life, and where a deep appreciation for classical music was constantly encouraged. It was my father, however, who instilled in me the enduring influence of the natural world and the Scottish Highlands; our long walks across those hillsides provided the primal connection to nature that remains the primary, reductive motif in my work today.
A background in precision and exploration deeply informed my professional path. Following my graduation from the Edinburgh College of Art, I balanced a career in technical cartography with a rapidly evolving arts career. Early professional validation followed, notably winning the Sculpture Prize at the Scottish Society of Women Artists’ 64th Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, and later being selected for a commissioned installation for the Society of Scottish Artists’ Centenary Exhibition, also held at the RSA.
Following participation in the prestigious Fruitmarket Gallery Open Group Show, I experienced a pivotal period of reflection, leading me away from the fine arts establishment and toward the medium of ceramics. This transition proved to be a defining creative evolution. My coiled ceramic vessels was met with immediate professional acclaim, resulting in early solo exhibitions at The Roger Billcliffe Gallery in Glasgow ( a lasting professional relationship until their recent closure) and The Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh. This period of artistic autonomy allowed me to refine my signature voice, unhindered by commercial briefs.
My practice today is the culmination of these decades of inquiry. Having moved through the worlds of cartography, teaching, and commercial production, I have distilled my process into a singular pursuit: the creation of work that is both technically complex and emotionally resonant. From my participation in Collect at Somerset House to my ongoing studio research, my work stands as a testament to a career built on persistence, the evolution of skill, and an unwavering connection to natural world and the landscapes of Scotland.
LORRAINE ROBSON
Contemporary Sculptor & Ceramicist
Website: www.lorrainerobson.co.uk
Email: lorrainerobsonceramics@gmail.com
Summary
Award-winning contemporary sculptor and ceramicist with a BA (Hons) in Sculpture from Edinburgh College of Art. My practice focuses on contemplative, hand-built forms, uniquely blending ancient craft techniques with modern influences. My work is held in prestigious public and private collections, including the Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan, Strathnaver Museum, and Caithness Horizons (now North Coast Visitor Centre). I possess extensive experience in arts education, community engagement, and museum collaboration, consistently fostering public appreciation for both historical methods and modern artistry.
Education
BA (Hons) Sculpture, Edinburgh College of Art
Awards & Grants
* National Lottery Craft Funding (Creative Scotland) – Collect 2020
* Creative Scotland Bursary – 2014 (Creative Development)
* Vasefinder, 1st Prize, Vasefinder 7th International, USA – 2012
* Vasefinder, 3rd Prize, Vasefinder 6th International, USA – 2011
* Forth Valley Craft Makers Award – 2009 (Professional Development Research)
* Scottish Arts Council Creative Development Grant – 2009
* Arts Council Grant – 1991 (Commissioned Installation)
* Selina Goodenough Memorial Prize for Sculpture, RSA – 1988
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions:
Tidal, &Gallery, Edinburgh, UK – 2023
Offerings, Barony Centre & Peter Potter Gallery, UK – 2013
James Graham and Sons, New York, USA – 1998
New Works, The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, UK – 1996
Roger Billcliffe Fine Art Gallery, Glasgow, UK – 1995
Selected International Biennials/Group Exhibitions:
Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan – 2016, 2012
4th International Triennial of Silicate Arts, Hungary – 2014
8th International Biennial of Ceramics, Austria – 2013
Invited Artist, IV International Festival of Postmodern Ceramics, Croatia – 2012
UNICUM, International Ceramic Triennial, Slovenia – 2012
Craft Council Collect Open 2020, Somerset House, London, UK – 2020
SSA Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh, UK – 2025, 2023
VAS Centenary Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh, UK – 2024
Full exhibition history available upon request.
Work in Collections
Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan
Strathnaver Museum, Bettyhill, Scotland
Caithness Horizons, Thurso, Scotland
Commonwealth and Foreign Office
Scottish Power
Forestry Commission
Maclay Murray & Spens Solicitors
Residencies
Artist in Residence, Strathnaver Museum, Bettyhill, Scotland – 2012-2013
Artist in Residence, Carrick Knowe PS, Edinburgh – Apr – Jul 2008
Artist in Residence, New Lanark PS, UK – Feb – Jun 2007
Artist in Residence, Bo'ness Academy, UK – Sept 2005 – Jun 2006
Museum Collaborations, Education & Public Engagement
Artist in Residence, Strathnaver Museum (2012-2013): Conducted in-depth research into museum collections, deepening understanding of historical craft methods. Facilitated direct engagement with museum artifacts, inspiring new creative outcomes, including a contemporary coiled vessel for the permanent collection.
- Commissioned Replica Coiled Pictish Cooking Pot, Caithness Horizons (2014): Researched and recreated an ancient artifact for the museum's collection, demonstrating expertise in historical techniques and collection interpretation. Presented as part of the "Year of Ancient Ancestors Festival."
- Hand-built Ceramics Tutor, Stirling Council (2008-2018): Designed and delivered comprehensive ceramics programs for diverse community groups, demonstrating a decade of experience in public education and hands-on ceramic arts teaching.
- Collaborative Workshops with Archaeologist (2012): Partnered with archaeologist Beverley Ballin Smith to explore Bronze Age beaker artifacts through ancient coil-building techniques, providing tangible links to historical makers.
- Archaeology Festival October Workshop, Strathnaver Museum (2016): Developed and led a workshop linking contemporary craft to archaeological finds, demonstrating ability to create engaging museum-based educational content.
- Ceramic Slab-built -focused Workshop for Secondary School Teachers, Dumfries and Galloway Council (2016): Provided CPD for educators, showcasing ability to convey complex techniques to fellow professionals.
- "A Spot of Imagination" Project, Edinburgh Council (2007): Highly commended project demonstrating success in engaging participants and achieving recognition for educational impact.
Full workshop history available upon request.
Publications
Crafts Magazine, Issue 288 – 2021
Converge – Visual Arts Scotland ISBN978-0-9931810-1-6 – 2016
Lark Books ‘Showcase 500 Necklaces’ ISBN978-1-4547-0352-5 – 2013
Ceramic Review, Issue 253 – 2012
Inclusion Arts for Excellence Directory, City of Edinburgh Council’s Creative Links 2009
Homes & Interiors Scotland, December edition, ‘Ceramic Art. Who’s who in the Scottish scene’ – 2003
Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom, November edition – 2002
Professional Memberships
Professional Axis member
Professional Member, Society of Scottish Artists
Professional Member, Visual Arts Scotland
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