Liila Robertson

Liila Robertson, originally from Brecon, South Wales, moved to Brighton in the early 90s.

Liila Robertson is an intuitive abstract artist based in Brighton whose creative journey began in her late 40s. After a lifetime of believing she couldn’t be an artist due to her inability to draw or paint in a traditional, realistic style, a major turning point came when she began using HRT for perimenopause. This sparked an overwhelming urge to create, leading her to start doodling on the sofa with graphic ink pens and watercolours. Sharing her early pieces on Facebook, she was surprised and encouraged when people began asking to buy them. Soon after, Liila found a discarded easel on the side of the road—an unexpected sign that prompted her to purchase canvas and paints. As her passion grew, so did her audience, and after a year of sharing and selling her work online, she approached galleries. The Brighton Box was the first to sign her. Drawn to colour, texture, and movement, Liila’s work is inspired by the chaos and beauty of everyday life. Her art is deeply emotional, shaped by colour, texture, and movement. Liila’s work is inspired by the chaos and beauty of everyday life. Her art is deeply emotional, shaped by moments of joy, confusion, sadness, and clarity. Rejecting rigid rules and technical expectations, she allows her inner world to guide her hand, trusting instinct and emotion to lead the way. Her process involves layering acrylics using palette knives and unconventional household tools—her favourite being a window-cleaning squeegee. Rarely using brushes, she embraces bold gestures and spontaneous marks to capture what she feels, not what she sees. By surrendering to the process and letting go of perfection, Liila has found true creative freedom.