Moraine 2010

Robert Milner, Acrylic

From his early childhood, Robert Milner sketched anything and everything his eye fancied. He would sketch on newsprint, on cards, in his school notebook, and even on the backside of rolls of wallpaper. He never stopped sketching and nature was constantly supplying him with an abundance of subjects. Despite being mostly self-taught as an artist, Milner did study with David Zahn of the Pratt Institute in New York City. All Milner’s paintings, whether of wildlife or landscapes, evoke an immediate response of subject intimacy, mode, and feelings from any viewer. 

Milner shared his love of nature and art with his wife Kathleen who had a particular interest in photography. They travelled widely through North America and England, mostly off the beaten path. In 1992-94, the couple embarked on a 2-year odyssey around North America in a trailer. At the end of their travels, they parked their trailer on Kenrei Road and spent weekends there canoeing, exploring, and painting in Ken Reid Conservation Area. 

Milner was an enthusiastic “plein air” painter. He honed Kathleen’s skills as a photographer to record on film what he was painting or drawing for use as a colour reference when he returned to paint in his studio. In 2010, Milner and his wife had their first publicly collaborative exhibit at the Kawartha Art Gallery, featuring her photos alongside his paintings. In the same year, the couple moved to Prince Edward Island.

Born: Yorkshire, England