Robert Sivell RSA 1888-1958

Robert Sivell was born in Paisley in 1888. He studied there and served an apprenticeship as an engineer but quickly discovered his passion for art. He took evening classes under Mr W. Laughland Cockburn who encouraged him to go to the Glasgow School of Art. After a period of move and change, he returned to Glasgow in 1916 and began his work as a painter. This was a period of struggle and hardship for his career.

In 1936 he was appointed Head of the Painting School of Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen. His work is distinguished by his keen draughtsmanship and solidity of form and is represented in the local Art Galleries of Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Greenock and Paisley.