Robinson initially worked mainly in engraving, both drawing ("del") and engraving ("sc") the plates. With the decline in engraving caused by photography, Robinson moved into painting in watercolour and other media. In 1866 Robinson exhibited a number of watercolours at the Suffolk Street Exhibition in London including one painting entitled 'A Mill Pond' (Catalogue entry 1017 which sold for £9-9-). He was a relative, most likely the nephew, and pupil of the artist and engraver John Henry Robinson (1796–1871). In some cases the men worked together, as on the engraving of the bust of William Shakespeare, where it is recorded "E.W. Robinson del [drawing]; H. Robinson sc [engraving]".[2] He produced a wide range of work including coloured plates for the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.
Works illustrated by Robinson
Rye, E. C. (1866) British Beetles: an introduction to the study of our indigenous coleoptera, Lovell Reeve.