Little is known about Christina Robertson's early life. She was born in Fife, Scotland, and it is believed that she trained with her uncle, George Sanders, a successful miniaturist. In 1823 she married James Robertson, also a painter, and together they relocated to London from where she sent pictures to exhibitions at the Royal Academies in London and Edinburgh regularly.

During this time interest in her work increased, and among her distinguished patrons were the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, the Countess of Sheffield, Lord Powerscourt and Viscountess Barrington. After 1830 her circle of patrons had widened to include more international names such as Rothschild, Monte Bello, Zuvadovsky and Pototski, which mu...