Robin Hurlstone, an art dealer and former partner of Dame Joan Collins, has died. The pair shared a volatile 13-year romance before parting ways in 2001.

The 13-year volatility of Robin Hurlstone and Joan Collins

Robin Hurlstone, the art dealer who once shared a high-profile romance with Dame Joan Collins , has passed away. According to the report, the relationship spanned 13 years and was characterized by a tumultuous dynamic that blended professional admiration with personal friction. Dame Joan Collins has reflected on this period in her memoirs, noting that while Robin Hurlstone possessed a formidable eye for aesthetics and exquisite taste, he often utilized a "sharp tongue" to deliver cutting remarks regarding her physical appearance.

This duality—the appreciation for beauty in art contrasted with a critical view of his partner—defines much of the public record of their time together. For Dame Joan Collins, the relationship was a complex chapter of her life where the intellectual stimulation of the art world clashed with the emotional toll of constant criticism.

From a 2001 split to a 2008 Saint-Tropez reunion

Despite the emotional friction that defined their romance, the bond between Robin Hurlstone and Dame Joan Collins did not end abruptly with their formal separation in 2001. As the report says, the two maintained a friendship long after their romantic involvement ceased, a fact evidenced by photographs of the pair together in Saint-Tropez in 2008. This transition from lovers to platonic companions suggests a mutual respect that eventually transcended the volatility of their early years.

The ability of Dame Joan Collins to maintain a connection with Robin Hurlstone after such a difficult relationship speaks to a specific kind of resilience often found in long-term celebrity associations. By moving past the "tumultuous" nature of their split, the two were able to coexist in the same social circles of the global elite for years after their romantic dissolution.

Percy Gibson and the 'two stags at bay' introduction

The departure of Robin Hurlstone from the romantic life of Dame Joan Collins eventually paved the way for her relationship with Percy Gibson. Dame Joan Collins has been married to Percy Gibson for nearly 25 years, marking a period of stability that stands in stark contrast to the 13 years she spent with Hurlstone. However, the transition was not without its own initial tensions; Dame Joan Collins has humorously recalled that her first meeting with Percy Gibson felt like "two stags at bay."

This metaphor highlights the strong personalities involved in the actress's personal life. While the relationship with Percy Gibson evolved into a quarter-century marriage, the memory of the "stags" suggests that Dame Joan Collins has always been drawn to partners with a formidable presence, whether that presence was supportive or, in the case of Robin Hurlstone, critical.

From the Cinema at Selfridges to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival

The passing of an art dealer like Robin Hurlstone coincides with a broader cultural moment where the intersection of art and celebrity remains a focal point of public fascination. For instance, the film Moss & Freud recently premiered at the Cinema at Selfridges in London, exploring the close bond between Kate Moss and Lucian Freud. The production features Ellie Bamber, 29, and Sir Derek Jacobi, 87, who reported that their on-screen chemistry was "immediate" despite a 58-year age gap.

This trend of exploring the symbiotic relationship between artists and their muses echoes the dynamic Robin Hurlstone shared with Dame Joan Collins.. Similarly, the 2026 Cannes Film Festival saw the world premiere of a project starring Barry Keoghan, 33, directed by Kantemir Balagov.. These events underscore a continuing obsession with the "fearless commitment" required in both art and high-profile relationships, a trait that Robin Hurlstone likely recognized in the women he admired.

What remains unsaid about the Hurlstone family's grief?

While the family of Robin Hurlstone described him as being "loved by all who knew him," several specific details remain missing from the public record. The report does not specify the cause of death for the art dealer, nor does it clarify if Dame Joan Collins has issued a fresh formal statement beyond the reflections found in her existing memoirs.

Furthermore, it remains unclear how the Hurlstone family viewed the public nature of his tumultuous history with the actress. Because the source relies heavily on the memoirs of Dame Joan Collins and brief family comments, the perspective of Robin Hurlstone himself on the "tumultuous" label remains an open question.