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The Life and Career of Robert Sivell

Born in Paisley, United Kingdom, Robert Sivell was a Scottish portrait artist who played a significant role in the mid-20th century art scene. His journey began with evening studies at the Glasgow School of Art under Fra Newbery, though his path was interrupted by the necessity of working as an apprentice engineer. During the First World War, he utilized his engineering skills to fit out trawlers for mine-sweeping operations and worked on the Boom Defence of Cromarty before joining the Merchant Navy. Following his service, he moved to Glasgow, where he shared a studio with Archibald McGlashon and became a founder member of the Glasgow Society of Artists and Sculptors in 1919.

Sivell's life was deeply connected to Kirkcudbright, where he lived for long periods and eventually built a house and studio known as The Hollow, Stell, with his wife, Isobel Sayers. In the 1930s, he moved to Aberdeen to serve as the Head of Drawing and Painting at Grays School of Art, a position he held from 1942 to 1954. During his tenure, he undertook a large-scale mural project for the Aberdeen University Union, a task involving his pupils that spanned from 1938 until 1953. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1936 and became a full member in 1943.

Artistic Works and Legacy

Sivell was a prolific painter, known for commissioned portraits and various subjects of his own choosing. Many of his portraits were executed in oil on wood and are characterized by a dark and foreboding tone. His body of work includes diverse subjects, from large-scale murals to specific historical and personal commissions. Notable works include:

His legacy is preserved through numerous works held in the Aberdeen Art Museum, many of which were donated by his pupil Alberto Morrocco. His murals in the Aberdeen University Union have been granted historic status and protection by the city.