Robbie Thomson is a Scottish multimedia artist working between visual art, music and theatre, he is based on the Isle of Lewis. Robbie’s interests include the interplay of technology and consciousness, psychology, cybernetics, industrial landscapes and megalithic sites. He often experiments with technology in his projects: past works include music made with a high voltage Tesla coil and an immersive large scale robotic installation in Glasgow’s Clyde Tunnel.

Alongside his artistic practice, Robbie works as a designer and educator. Commissions include lighting, set design, video and music work for theatre and film productions in Scotland and internationally.

In 2011 Robbie was a founding director of independent arts venue the Glue Factory in Glasgow and in 2013 he joined the Cryptic Artist programme. Robbie has worked as a collaborator with theatre companies such as Untitled Projects, NVA, Common Wealth Theatre and National Theatre of Scotland. From 2010 to 2015 he was a member of 85A, a Glasgow based DIY collective that produced large scale installations and performances.

Robbie has toured widely, presenting work at festivals and galleries throughout the UK, Europe, Indonesia, Mexico, Korea, and Australia.

Selected Solo Exhibitions / Performances
2024 Beacon Public artwork, various locations, Na h- Eilieanan Siar
2021 End of Engines An Lanntair, Stornoway, CCA Glasgow
2019 Portal Festival 2018, Clyde Tunnel, Glasgow
2017 Infinite Lives Grand Theatre, Groningen, NL / CENART, Mexico City / CMMAS, Morelia, MX / Lawangwangi Creative Space, Digital Design Weekend Bandung, ID, Tramway, Glasgow
2017 Psychic Dirt The Substation, Melbourne, AU
2016 The Influencing Machine Societe des Artes Technologiques, Montréal, CA
2015 XFRMR Optimo, Glasgow / King’s Place, London / EXIT, Paris, FR / CENART, Mexico City / CMMAS, Morelia, MX / The Substation, Melbourne, AU / Indonesia Tour, ID / Culture Station 284, Seoul, KR / Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, NL / Edinburgh Fringe Festival / Sonica @ The Art School, Glasgow / Sensoria Festival. Sheffield / Manchester Science Museum / Paradigm, Groningen, NL
2015 The New Alps Fort Du Bruissin, Lyon, FR / Govanhill Baths, Glasgow
2013 Ecstatic Arc Summerhall, Edinburgh / Tramway, Glasgow

Selected Collaborations
2022 Standstill of the Moon in the North w/ Alicia Matthews, CCA Present Futures / Tramway, Glasgow
2019 Stack w/ Jack Wrigley, Paradigm Festival, Groningen, NL
2019 Torrefy w/ Alicia Matthews, Fold, London
2018 Rottinghuis w/ Alicia Matthews, Tramway, Glasgow / Grand Theatre,Groningen, NL
2018 Projekt 2-Tak w/ WAFT-LAB, Surabaya, ID
2017 YAYAYA AYAYAY w/ Ultimate Dancer, Tramway, Glasgow / Live Collision, Dublin, IE / Experimentica, Cardiff / South Bank Centre, London / Submerge Festival, Bristol
2016 Hinterland with NVA, St Peter’s Seminary, Cardross
2014 The Eye w/ Jack Wrigley, Untitled Projects, Glasgow Sculpture Studios
2013 Confessions of a Justified Sinner w/ Untitled Projects, Tramway / Edinburgh International Festival / Scen Ystad, SE / Dublin Theatre Festival, IE

Selected Design Work
2024 Glimmer Jess Holdengarde, Stills Gallery, Edinburgh
2024 Morag, You’re a Long Time Died Mull Theatre and Zoo Southside, Edinburgh
2024 Precious Cargo Sruth Mara Productions, Summerhall, Edinburgh
2024 A Blizzard in Slow Motion Jacob & Florence Dwyer, David Dale Gallery, Glasgow
2023 Off The Curriculum Common Wealth Theatre, Speaker’s Corner, Bradford
2019 I Have Met the Enemy Common Wealth Theatre, Northern Stage
2019 What Lies Beneath Shelfish Productions, Grand Theatre, Groningen, NL
2015 Triebwerke Fusion Festival, DE

Roles
2022 > present Clàr programme leader / curator, An Lanntair, Stornoway
2022 > present Lead Artist, Remembering Together, Na h- Eilieanan Siar
2013 > present Cryptic Artist programme
2011 > 2014 Founding Director, The Glue Factory, Glasgow

Residencies
2020 Watershed / MAYK Winter Residency, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol
2018 2-tak residency, WAFT Lab, Surabaya, Indonesia
2017 Open Studio Residency for Digital Design Weekend Bandung, Indonesia
2017 Residency at Grand Theatre, Groningen, Netherlands
2017 Production residency for Paper Memories, Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain
2017 Production residency for YAYAYA AYAYAY, Gessnerallee, Zurich, Switzerland
2016 Residency at The Substation, Melbourne, Australia
2016 CALQ / PRIM / CCA residency, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2016 & 2017 CMMAS residency, Morelia, Mexico
2016 Collision residency, Southbank Center, London
2015 > 2019 Cove Park Residency, Rosneath, Scotland
2012 Artist In Residence, Not Quite, Fengersfors, Sweden

Awards
2019 Aesthetica Art Prize – longlist
2017 Made in Scotland Award for XFRMR
2015 Puppet Animation Scotland Creative Fund award
2014 Best Design (Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner) Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland
2013 Made in Scotland Award for Ecstatic Arc
2012 Arts Trust Scotland Award

Education: BA (Hons), Environmental Art, Glasgow School of Art, 2009

Past Clients / Venues / Collaborators also include: Shunt, ICA, Barbican, Traverse Theatre, Rotterdam Schaumburg, Opéra de Dijon, National Theatre of Scotland, Trigger, FK Alexander, Bassline Circus, The Woodmill, The Arches, Journey to the East, Grinneabhat, Forest of Black, BBC, Mele Forbes Broomes, Film G, Grinneabhat, Radio Nard, Clydebuilt Radio, Vision Mechanics, Boomtown, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ashanti Harris, TLC Soundsystem, Puppet Animation Scotland, Zephyr Liddel, Glasgow School of Art, T in the Park