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Meet the 35 Most Famous Paintings by Robert Colquhoun
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 35 works by Robert Colquhoun in our catalogue
In short
If you know one Robert Colquhoun painting, it's probably Encounter (1942). Two Irish People (1947) and Woman with Leaping Cat (1945) round out the three pieces people recognise right away. Our catalogue has 35 works by Robert Colquhoun. Below are the 35 people know best, each with its year, where to find it and what makes it special.
1914 – 1962, Kilmarnock
Cubism
Most works: British Council Collection
Start here: the top 10 Robert Colquhoun paintings
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Seated Woman and Cat
In the evocative landscape of mid-century British art, few works capture the tension between simplicity and profound emotion as effectively as Robert Colquhoun’s Seated Woman and Cat. Painted in 1946, this striking oil on canvas serves as a masterclass in early modernism, blending the structural rigor of Cubism with the raw, visceral energy of Expressionism. The composition immediately commands attention through its bold, geometric architecture, where flattened planes and sharp…
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Woman in a Blue Hat
In the evocative realm of mid-century British Expressionism, few works capture the raw, psychological tension of the human condition as poignantly as Robert Colquhoun’s 1947 masterpiece, Woman in a Blue Hat. This striking portrait serves as a profound window into the artist's ability to transmute simple observation into deep emotional resonance. At first glance, the viewer is met with a bold, chromatic confrontation: the vibrant, almost aggressive yellow of the…
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The Lock Gate
The Lock Gate is a captivating oil on canvas painting created by the renowned artist Robert Colquhoun in 1942. Measuring 39 x 58 cm, this artwork is currently housed at the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre in the United Kingdom. As a prominent figure in the British art scene, Colquhoun's works are highly regarded for their unique blend of realism and modernism. Composition and Style The Lock Gate painting features a…
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Woman with a Circus Goat
The oil painting titled Woman with a Circus Goat was executed by the artist Robert Colquhoun. This work dates to 1948. It is currently held within the British Council Collection.
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Tomato Plants
In the evocative realm of mid-century British expressionism, few works capture the pulse of the natural world with as much kinetic energy as Robert Colquanno’s 1942 masterpiece, Tomato Plants. At first glance, the canvas presents a lush, sprawling forest scene, yet beneath its vibrant surface lies a complex tapestry of movement and light. The composition is anchored by a magnificent tree adorned with luminous yellow leaves, a brilliant focal point…
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More Robert Colquhoun favourites, 11 to 35
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Thea Neu1943
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Young Man in a Landscape (David Haughton, 1924–1991, Artist)1943
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Marrowfield, Worcestershire1941
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Church Lench1942 · Arts Council Collection
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Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962), Artist, Self Portrait1940
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Woman with a Birdcage1946
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The Fortune Teller1946
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The Dubliners1946
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The Goatherd1948 · County Hall
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The Potato Diggers1946 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
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Weaving Army Cloth1945 · British Council Collection
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The Peasant Woman1944 · County Hall
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Circus Woman1949
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Woman in Green1949
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Costume for Donald (in a Palace Scene)1952
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The Goatmen (costume design for Leonide Massine's ballet 'Donald of the Burthens' of 1951)1952
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Boy with a Basket1949
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Man with a Donkey Saddle1950 · Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
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Woman and Goat1948 · The Hepworth Wakefield
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The Students1947 · British Council Collection
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Seeded Plants1942 · Royal College of Art
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Girl and PigSalford Museum - Art Gallery
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Religious Procession, Italy
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Woman with a Goat
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Weeping Woman1948 · The Dick Institute
Thea Neu1943
12Young Man in a Landscape (David Haughton, 1924–1991, Artist)1943
13Marrowfield, Worcestershire1941
14Church Lench1942 · Arts Council Collection
15Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962), Artist, Self Portrait1940
16Woman with a Birdcage1946
17The Fortune Teller1946
18The Dubliners1946
19The Goatherd1948 · County Hall
20The Potato Diggers1946 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
21Weaving Army Cloth1945 · British Council Collection
22The Peasant Woman1944 · County Hall
23Circus Woman1949
24Woman in Green1949
25Costume for Donald (in a Palace Scene)1952
26The Goatmen (costume design for Leonide Massine's ballet 'Donald of the Burthens' of 1951)1952
27Boy with a Basket1949
28Man with a Donkey Saddle1950 · Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
29Woman and Goat1948 · The Hepworth Wakefield
30The Students1947 · British Council Collection
31Seeded Plants1942 · Royal College of Art
32Girl and PigSalford Museum - Art Gallery
33Religious Procession, Italy
34Woman with a Goat
35Weeping Woman1948 · The Dick Institute
What Robert Colquhoun painted most
The four subjects that come up most often in these pieces, each with its best-known example.
Melancholy mood 3 works
Geometric forms 3 works
Where you can see Robert Colquhoun's paintings
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Robert Colquhoun | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 British Council Collection |
London | 4 | Woman in a Blue Hat, Woman with a Circus Goat, Weaving Army Cloth |
 County Hall |
Leicester | 3 | Seated Figure, The Goatherd, The Peasant Woman |
 Arts Council Collection |
London | 2 | Seated Woman and Cat, Church Lench |
 Jerwood Gallery |
Hastings | 1 | Two Irish People |
 Government Art Collection |
London | 1 | Tomato Plants |
 The Fleming Collection |
London | 1 | Head Study |
 Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries |
Aberystwyth | 1 | The Potato Diggers |
 Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art |
Middlesbrough | 1 | Man with a Donkey Saddle |
Robert Colquhoun year by year: the standout pieces
From 1940 to 1952, Robert Colquhoun's dated pieces span 13 years. Here they are, year by year, with the best-known pieces of each.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its pieces.
1946
Seated Woman and Cat
Age 32
5 works this year
In the evocative landscape of mid-century British art, few works capture the tension between simplicity and profound emotion as effectively as Robert Colquhoun’s Seated Woman and Cat. Painted in 1946, this striking oil on canvas serves as a masterclass in early modernism, blending the structural rigor of Cubism with the raw, visceral energy of Expressionism. The composition immediately commands attention through its bold, geometric architecture, where flattened planes and sharp…
More from 1946
1948
Woman with a Circus Goat
Age 34
4 works this year
The oil painting titled Woman with a Circus Goat was executed by the artist Robert Colquhoun. This work dates to 1948. It is currently held within the British Council Collection.
More from 1948
Your questions about Robert Colquhoun's paintings
Which Robert Colquhoun painting is the most famous?See the answer
Top of the list is Encounter (1942). Right behind it: Two Irish People (1947) and Woman with Leaping Cat (1945).
How old was Robert Colquhoun when Encounter was made?See the answer
28 years old. Robert Colquhoun was born in 1914, and Encounter dates from 1942.
What are the 10 best-known Robert Colquhoun paintings?See the answer
Encounter, Two Irish People, Woman with Leaping Cat, Seated Figure, Seated Woman and Cat, Woman in a Blue Hat, The Lock Gate, Woman with a Circus Goat, Tomato Plants and Head Study. You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.
How many paintings did Robert Colquhoun create?See the answer
We have 35 works by Robert Colquhoun in our catalogue, dated 1940 to 1952.
Where can you see Robert Colquhoun's famous paintings?See the answer
You'll find most of them in British Council Collection (London), County Hall (Leicester) and Arts Council Collection (London). The museum list above has the full breakdown.
When did Robert Colquhoun paint the best-known pieces?See the answer
In 1942, more than any other time: 5 of the 35 pieces on this page date from then, Encounter among them.
Which famous Robert Colquhoun paintings came first and last?See the answer
The earliest piece here is Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962), Artist, Self Portrait (1940); the most recent is Costume for Donald (in a Palace Scene) (1952).
What subjects show up most in Robert Colquhoun's paintings?See the answer
Women (6), Melancholy mood (3) and Geometric forms (3), out of the 35 pieces on this page.
What materials did Robert Colquhoun paint with most?See the answer
Oil On Canvas, used in 5 of the 35 pieces on this page.
What art movement was Robert Colquhoun part of?See the answer
Cubism and Expressionism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.
Which Robert Colquhoun pieces can you see at the British Council Collection?See the answer
You can see 4 of the pieces on this page at the British Council Collection, London, including Woman in a Blue Hat, Woman with a Circus Goat and Weaving Army Cloth.
Getting to know Robert Colquhoun
Robert Colquhoun: A Visionary Painter of Isolation and Expression
Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962) stands as a pivotal figure in British art of the mid-century, recognized for his distinctive expressionist style—characterized by stark contrasts of color, simplified forms, and an unflinching portrayal of human emotion. Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, he possessed an innate artistic sensibility nurtured by early exposure to the landscapes of Ayrshire, which would profoundly inform his visual vocabulary. His formal education at Glasgow School of Art cemented a lifelong partnership with fellow artist Robert MacBryde, forging a creative alliance that shaped their careers and intellectual discourse.- Early Influences & Artistic Formation: Colquhoun’s formative years were marked by an immersion in rural Ayrshire's vibrant hues and textures—a connection that translated into his initial paintings depicting agricultural laborers and workmen with remarkable sensitivity. These early works demonstrated a nascent understanding of color theory and compositional balance, foreshadowing the stylistic developments to come.
- The MacBryde Collaboration & Parisian Exploration: The meeting at Glasgow School of Art initiated a symbiotic relationship with MacBryde that extended beyond artistic collaboration into personal companionship. Together they embarked on a transformative journey to France and Italy in 1937–39, absorbing the influence of Picasso’s cubism and experimenting with innovative techniques. This period solidified their commitment to abstraction and established them as artists deeply attuned to the intellectual currents of their time.