Keith Roper joined the Lincolnshire Artists Society in 1966, making him one of our most venerable members. Sixty years is something to celebrate then, which he did having won this years Maggie Dean Award at the Doddington 2026 show.
Much of Keith’s work is oil based semi-abstract landscape. He is very much influenced by the flat lands and fens of south Lincolnshire. Earlier influences were more southerly from the Solent estuary, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest area. He works in the studio from sketches and the odd photograph as an aid-memoir. The main objective for him is to create a feeling of mood and atmosphere in the picture through colour, shape and in particular the application of pastel or paint on the paper or canvas. The sky and weather are also a feature in the creation of mood and sensitivity.
Click images for slideshow…
Keith has been a artist since his early school days at William Farr School in Welton. His interest was nurtured by his teacher David Paton who’s influence continued into later life. On leaving school Keith joined the Lincolnshire School of Art and Design to study on the then new course of Graphic Design. He didn’t feel entirely comfortable and felt the need to paint. This was at the time when Tony Bartl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Bartl) taught at the LSAD and whose influence encouraged him to pick up the brush, his course was set. He reminisces that is those days a tube of paint cost half a crown (that’s 8 tubes for a pound in new money!).
Playing an active role in the LAS as Chair in the 1980s Keith was involved with selecting work for LAS shows at the Usher Gallery and around the county. He recounts that unlike today’s electronic submission and selection process, work would be physically brought into the Usher, selected, labelled and hung in the same day. As for many of us, new technology can a be a bit a of issue these days “it must be an artist thing” but he gets by with a little help.
Keith also is a long standing member of the Pastel Society
https://thepastelsociety.org.uk/member/keith-roper/
Keith’s awards include:
Christopher Asherton Stones Pastel Soc award 1987
Daler Rowney Pastel award 1995
Willi Hoffmann Guth Pastel Soc award 2004
Christopher Asherton Stones Pastel Soc award 1987
Daler Rowney Pastel award 1995
Willi Hoffmann Guth Pastel Soc award 2004
Christopher Asherton Stones Pastel Soc award 1987
Daler Rowney Pastel award 1995
Willi Hoffmann Guth Pastel Soc award 2004
Lincolnshire Artists Society, 1966 onwards
Judith Olyer Award Lincolnshire Artists Society, 1985, 1995 & 2006
Maggie Dean Award, 2026
Interview and pictures – Chris Goddard