Robert studied Fine Art at Birmingham Polytechnic and achieved an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art in London. He is particularly interested in the human aspects of architecture, describing where and how people live their lives, and always paints outdoors, directly from the subject.

In 1998, as part of the ‘Turning The Tide’ project, Easington District Council commissioned Robert to capture the coastline between Seaham and Hartlepool. The project sought to regenerate the Durham coast, removing the colliery spoil and mining debris from its beaches. Robert saw in this coastline “a terrible beauty, the beauty of violation” and found inspiration in its unnatural colours and man-made landscape.