The sale of a treasure trove of artwork has marked the final chapter in the life of Angus artist Barbara Robertson.
Signed and unsigned artwork, as well as the tools and printing equipment Barbara used to bring her quirky work to life, were included in the 440 lots which produced a four-figure windfall for two charities that were close to her heart.
The distinctive pieces which went under the hammer in Montrose were found in the artist’s Angus home after she died in July 2018, aged 72.
The sale of her cottage has also raised money to create a scholarship to fund another young printmaker at Dundee University.
Born in Broughty Ferry, Barbara trained at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.
There, she gained her diplomas in printmaking and illustration and won a major travelling scholarship.
Her work has been exhibited in France and Germany and she had shown her prints in the Royal Scottish Academy since 1973.
Barbara had a large following and several galleries frequently exhibited her work.
Friend and fellow artist Sheila MacFarlane from St Cyrus, who watched Saturday’s auction, said Barbara was an original printmaker working mainly in the medium of linocut.
“I first met Barbara in 1970 when I arrived at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art as lecturer in charge of printmaking,” she said.
“Barbara had just returned from her travelling scholarship to Italy.
“Her tutor at Dundee had been the Polish artist, Joseph Sekalski, a wonderful wood engraver.
“The relationship between Barbara and myself was that of colleagues and friends rather than teacher and student.
“Linocutting was her life and in my opinion she was possibly one of the the best exponents of the technique in the world.
“Going through her records I saw that besides all she had achieved in the UK, she had participated in international competitions, winning a prize in a French Biennale with her first entry.”
The money raised will be divided between the Cats Protection League and Lupus UK.
Barbara suffered badly from Lupus.
Her work often featured cats, hens, sheep and other animals, as well as beautifully observed landscapes of the Angus countryside.
She loved cats and always had one or more of them and gave them names to reflect their personalities.
Barbara was also a judge for the Scottish Cat Club in their annual show in Dundee and her annual cat calendar usually sold out.
“I shall miss her fun and her wicked sense of humour,” said Sheila.
Barbara’s distinctive work has been exhibited at home and abroad.
