was most interested. Susan Stairs critiqued his work as follows:"The beauty of Markey's work is its spontaneity of line, its freshness of approach. His works do not have a contrived 'finished' appearance. Some galleries felt that this rawness was detrimental to the sale of his work and actually employed people to touch up certain areas in Markey's paintings which they felt was 'unfinished'."Robinson showed in Philadelphia with a one-man exhibition at Villanova University in 1990. Robinson returned to his Belfast roots in 1996, making his home at Tudor Place off the Crumlin Road where he was to die just three years later. Death and legacy Markey Robinson died at his home in Belfast on 28 January 1999, aged 80. He was survived by two daughters, an ex-wife, and three grandchildren. His ex-wife died in November of the same year. Robinson died intestate leaving at least eleven bank accounts where he had deposited large sums of cash, totalling in excess of £200,000. Robinson's works were often subject to squabbles amongst gallery owners over who had the right to show his works. Robinson was a shy and gentle character, who had little if any interest in the business of art, the dealer system or indeed in the financial benefits of his work. He spurned publicity and rarely attended opening nights or allowed his photo to be taken. He painted for himself and for those who appreciated his work. Legal arguments over Robinson's work and his estate were to continue long after his death. Robinson's work can be found in many private collections across the world and in public collections such as the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Ulster Museum and Queen's University, Belfast. Further reading Markey -30 years at the Oriel Gallery, The Oriel Gallery, Dublin, 1997 Stairs, Susan, Markey Robinson -A life, the Retrospective, Shortall-Stairs Publications, Dublin, 1998 Markey at the Oriel, The Oriel Gallery, Dublin, 2008 References External links Oliver Nulty reflects on his relationship with Markey Robinson Examples of Robinson's work in public collections via Artuk.org 800+ works by Markey in private collections via Whytes.ie 1918 births 1999 deaths 20th-century Irish painters Irish male painters Alumni of Ulster University Artists from Belfast Naïve painters Painters from Northern Ireland Stained glass artists and manufacturers 20th-century Irish male artists