Robinson stamps a 25-year legacy

Barry Robinson, Royal Mail’s stamp programme director, is to retire after 25 years at the heart of British stamp design.

Robinson refuses to comment on his future, though he will continue with his role as an external assessor at Camberwell, Exeter and Croydon schools of art.

Royal Mail says it has yet to appoint a replacement for Robinson. Stamps & Collectibles managing director Gavin Macrae will take over interim responsibility for the stamp programme and will work in conjunction with the in-house design team and independent body the Stamps Advisory Committee.

‘Royal Mail will review the way of working in Stamps & Collectibles and a decision on the stamps director role will be made in due course,’ Macrae says.

Robinson has worked on more than 200 special stamp issues and his team of designers has won eight D&AD Awards and dozens of international design accolades.

Robinson says, ‘Because of the high standards we’ve achieved, many of Britain’s leading image-makers have welcomed the opportunity to design stamps.’

Robinson began working for The Post Office in 1977. in the dual role of design advisor and director of design.