Bill Roberts Portrait of a Gentleman Oil Painting in Burled Wood Frame

William "Bill" H. Roberts (American / Pennsylvania, 1932-2023) oil painting on paper portrait of a gentleman drinking tea. Artwork in contemporary burled wood frame measures 18.5" x 14.5". Artwork and frame in very good condition. Very light wear to matting.

Bill Roberts began his artistic journey at art school in England in 1950 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts in 1960.

Based in Philadelphia, Roberts was both an artist and a landscape architect. He lived in the city’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood, where he was represented by The Chestnut Hill Gallery on Germantown Avenue.

As a fine art painter, Roberts specialized in watercolor. His subjects included boat fleets along the Cape May coast, lively market scenes, and snow-covered cityscapes filled with figures. He also captured the beauty of the Maine coastline, painting in places such as Rockland, Tenants Harbor, and St. George.

In addition to his painting, Roberts was a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FASLA) and a founding partner of the firm Wallace Roberts & Todd. His work as an urban designer focused on revitalizing waterfronts and harbors across the United States. Among his most recognized projects is the transformation of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, completed by his team in 1967. The firm’s influence extended to cities including Norfolk, Louisville, Indianapolis, Richmond, Honolulu, and Dallas.

Wallace Roberts & Todd received an Honor Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1996. Roberts’s contributions to art and design have been recognized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation, where his watercolors have appeared in benefit auctions.

Earlier in his career, Roberts studied architecture at the University of Wales in Cardiff, graduating with honors before working as an architect in London. After retiring from private practice in 2003, he devoted his time fully to painting.