Artist Biography
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Robert Highsmith aws, nmws (1949-    )

Robert Highsmith received his art training from New Mexico State University and the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida.  Since then he has had many one-man and group shows throughout the country. Critics and collectors alike have liked his work and he is the recipient of over a hundred awards for his work. His watercolors are in numerous corporate and private collections in the US and abroad.  Most recently, he was honored with the Governors Award of Excellence in Art. His work has been featured in American Artist magazine, Watercolor Magic, Western Art CollectorWatercolor Artist, New Mexico Magazine, Southwest Art, Art Journey America: Landscapes and others.  The desert landscape and canyons of the southwest are his favorite subjects. His paintings are strong, unsentimental statements with equal parts heart and technical virtuosity. What takes them to brilliance is the stark contrasts that make the paintings photorealistic in detail. “A stunning collection of well-conceived and well-executed watercolors, a fresh and vibrant view of the region.”— M. Stephen Doherty, American Artist.

Currently he is a signature member the American Watercolor Society and the New Mexico Watercolor Society, with memberships in the National Watercolor Society, and the San Diego Watercolor Society. His work is represented by Manitou Galleries, Santa Fe, NM, the Cutter Gallery, Las Cruces, NM, and Four Corners Gallery in Bluffton, SC.

 

Shows/Awards: (abbreviated list)

• Paint the Parks (Directors Award)—Coutts Museum, St. Louis, MO– 2015

• Western Federation of Artists —Award of Excellence – 2013

• MasterWorks, Albuquerque, NM – 2012 (watercolor award)

• Governors Award of Excellence in Art, Santa Fe – NM– 2011

• Western Federation of Artists (Best of Show) Albuquerque, NM– 2011

• Paint the Parks Top 100 —St. Louis, MO– 2010

• Western Federation of Artists (West Valley, Utah) – 2010

• Western Impressions (Best of Show)  — El Paso, TX  – 2009

• Paint the Parks Top 100 —St. Louis, MO– 2009

• Paint America Top 100 —Topeka, KS – 2009

• Paint the Parks Top 100 (Jurors Award) —St. Louis, MO– 2008

• Paint America Top 100 & Top 200 (Jurors Award) —Topeka, KS – 2008

• Arts International Exhibition (1st Prize)  — El Paso, TX  – 2008

• Western Impressions (Best of Show)  — El Paso, TX  – 2008

• Artist's Magazine-National Competition–2007 (2 Finalist Awards)

• Arts International Exhibition (Jurors Award) — El Paso, TX  – 2007

• MasterWorks, Albuquerque, NM – 2004, 2005, 2007 (2nd in watercolor)

• Art for the Parks Top 100 —Jackson Hole, WY – 2006

• Adirondack Nat. Exhibition of American Watercolors, NY – 2006

• Western Federation of Artists (Lubbock, TX) – 2006

• Art for the Parks Top 100 —Jackson Hole, WY – 2005

• San Diego Watercolor International —San Diego, CA – 2005

• Fiesta of the Arts-Farm & Ranch Museum-1st in Watercolor 2005

• Arts International Exhibition (Jurors Award) — El Paso, TX 2004

• Montana Watercolor Society — Bigfork, Montana (Award)  2004

• Western Federation of Artists (Award of Excellence) – 2004

• NMWS – ‘01 (Award),‘02,‘03 (Award),‘04 (Award) (signature member)

• Red River WS, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND – 2004

• SC Watercolor Society – Awards 2000, 2001, 2002

• The Artist's Magazine - National Competition –1993 (Finalist)

• CAFA, New Britain Museum, CT 1987

• AWS, NY, NY 1979 (Award), 1984,1986,1987 (signature member)


Collections: (abbreviated list)
• Capital Art Foundation, Santa Fe, NM 

• BNSF Railroad

• Federal Reserve Bank, El Paso, Texas

• Tomasso Corporation

• Aetna Insurance

• Keiler-McKinley Advertising

• Hartford Insurance

• Stephenson Associates

• Hublein Corporation

• Beach National Bank

• Otis Elevator

• SNET

• Maitland City Hall, Maitland FL

• First Federal Bank of Sarasota, FL

• WCHS Television, Portland, ME • Hilton Head Public Library

• U.S. Embassy, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

 

 Published
• New Mexico Magazine, 2014 Calendar

• New Mexico Magazine, Jan 2009

• American Artist Magazine,May 2007

• Watercolor Magic, Feb 2007 “New Horizons”

• Watercolor Artist, June 2008 “Art for Sale”

• Southwest Artist Magazine, 2005, 2007 and 2008 “Best of the West, 2009 Watercolor & Pastel Edition

• Art Journey America: Landscapes---North Light Books

• SPLASH 11

• SPLASH 13

• SPLASH 16