Delve into the artwork of ActionSpace artists from across our three supported studios
In our March edition of the newly launched Artist Spotlight, we are thrilled to feature Robin Smith. This programme highlights the unique approaches and processes behind the artworks, shedding light on the distinctive voices of ActionSpace artists.
Artist Spotlight: Robin Smith
Robin Smith presents an exciting new series of large-scale paintings, developed over the course of 2024 – 2025, for his upcoming solo exhibition Abstract Worlds at ActionSpace’s studio at Studio Voltaire. Working on paper and board, Robin blends acrylic, emulsion, and ink with soft pastels and pen to create vivid, richly textured works that explore abstract forms and reimagined portraits of both animal and female figures.
Duck Panel Painting 3, 2024, acrylic, pen, pastel and collage on paper
Duck Panel Painting 8, 2024, acrylic, pen, pastel and collage on paper
These new paintings evolve continuously, showcasing Robin’s exploration of stylized, floating figures and creature compositions. His work is a journey into alternate worlds, where organic shapes and figures interlock and become suspended together, constructing an alternate reality that feels both dreamlike and otherworldly. These compositions are saturated with bold, vibrant colours that distort and frame the figures, transforming the space they occupy.
Bird With Shapes, 2024, acrylic, ink, soft pastel and pen on paper. 84 x 118cm
2 Birds, 2024, acrylic, ink, pastel and pen on paper. 84 x 118cm
Each piece feels like an invitation into a world where abstraction and representation merge, resulting in works that are as dynamic as they are visually striking. Robin’s use of colour is both intense and nuanced, creating tension between the organic shapes and the figures that emerge within them. As he continues to experiment and develop these works, Robin invites the viewer to step into an abstract universe where the boundaries between creature, form, and figure are constantly shifting.
Woman and Bird in a Blanket, 2024, acrylic, ink and pen on paper. 84 x 118cm
Figures and Shapes, 2025, acrylic, ink, pastel and pen on paper. 84 x 118cm
About Artist Spotlight
Artist Spotlight is a programme that highlights the unique practices of ActionSpace artists from our three supported studios. It aims to profile emerging ActionSpace artists by providing insights into their influences and inspirations, as well as showcasing new artwork.
Abstract Worlds
This Artist Spotlight was accompanied by an in-person showcase of works by Robin at the ActionSpace studio at Studio Voltaire.
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Each year ActionSpace supports hundreds of learning disabled artists to learn new creative skills and to realise their potential as artists. Our charity’s vital work is only made possible by the generosity of our individual and organisational supporters.
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Image: Robin Smith, DUCK panel series 4. 5. 6. 7. 9, 2025, acrylic, pen, pastel, and collage on paper
