Melvyn Robinson - Hill Drawings

Paintings inspired by the style and landscapes of chalk hill figures. About Melvyn Robinson (1933-2019) created a series called Hill Drawings comprising of paintings of a specific area in South Yorkshire, regarded by the artist as their homeland; locations such as Kine Moor, Woolley Farm, Fox Holes, the Hill Forts, and Boggard Wood. In this region, there is a legend of a black cockerel guarding a golden cradle in an underground passage, a tale that might pre-date Christianity and Roman occupation. The paintings incorporate a drawing style inspired by hill figures such as the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset, the Uffington White Horse in Berkshire, and other Celtic, Viking, and Anglo-Saxon sources, while depicting contemporary landscapes. Accompanied by poems and folksongs, the Hill Drawings explore themes of generation, aggression, survival, and humanity's place within the animal kingdom. Melvyn Robinson, born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in 1933, was an artist, musician, and educator. He studied at Barnsley College of Art, Manchester College of Art, and Keele University, where he developed a passion for integrating arts and education. Robinson taught at various institutions, including the College of Education in Cheshire, Hackney College, and the London Institute, while also teaching art and music in London schools. His first solo exhibition was held at the Acme Gallery in Covent Garden in 1978, followed by shows at venues such as the Cooper Art Gallery, The Air Gallery, and The Mile End Art Pavilion. He also participated in group exhibitions with Whitechapel Community Arts and engaged in gallery education, fostering community creativity. Robinson’s work, often accompanied by poetry and music, has been displayed in galleries including Mall Galleries, Bankside Gallery, and Hackney Museum. A talented musician, he played with jazz bands like 'The Temperance Seven' and composed for theatre productions, notably for Dreamer , the 1980 musical about a family running a textile sweat shop in London’s East End. Exhibition open from Tuesday 15 September 2026 to Monday 11 January 2027. Open during Cecil Sharp House opening hours - 9am to 11pm most days. In the stairwell at Cecil Sharp House. Read more Toggle Drawing Painting