Richard was raised in Yorkshire but is now rooted in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. He is a visual artist and spent 25 years working in various creative industries, but in 2017 he broke free to pursue his passion for fine art. He draws, paints, photographs, and creates installations, but particularly enjoys combining natural and technical elements. He finds inspiration in nature’s wilderness and is passionate about maintaining biodiversity to benefit the human condition. He completed a Fine Art BA in 2021 and was awarded Graduate of the Year for Academic Excellence by Nottingham College.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Our increasing disconnect with natural wonder is desperately concerning. We seem to seek comfort and control in an arms race that shields us from the chaos of Mother Nature, but I want to be the unpredictable insect living in the shadows of the flat-pack lounge. I want to liberate us from the dust of everyday life by portraying the hard things we hide from in a sublime way, so I deconstruct order and mesh it with nature to create a new kaleidoscope on the human condition. Some of my subjects are beautiful and others are less so, but humour is often my secret weapon to open a door to new perspectives and say things that mere words cannot explain. What drives me forward is a belief that we have become far too comfortable, so I’m with Banksy in believing that “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
EXHIBITIONS & OPEN CALLS
2025
Exhibiting artist | PERENNIAL, Haarlem Artspace, Wirksworth
Exhibiting artist | DARK PEAK PHOTO FESTIVAL LITE, Glossop
2024
Exhibiting artist | FLOWERS, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
Exhibiting artist | MUSE, Fox Yard Art Gallery, Stowmarket
Exhibiting artist | GALLERY INFORMAL ISSUE 3, online
2023
Beauty in Mundanity article | LEFT LION MAGAZINE, Nottingham
Exhibiting artist | SUMMER – OPEN CALL, Open Gallery, Halifax
2022
Exhibiting artist | FRONTEER OPEN, Yorkshire Art Space, Sheffield
Exhibiting artist | ART WAVES, Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
Exhibiting artist | STREET ART, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Exhibiting artist | DRAWING, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
Exhibiting artist | ABSTRACT, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Exhibiting artist | FERENS OPEN, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
2021
Selected artist | LAND ART, Haus-a-Rest Arts E-Zine
Exhibiting artist | CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITS, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
Exhibiting photographer | SHERWOOD ART WEEK, Nottingham
Exhibiting artist | WIRKSWORTH FESTIVAL, Online Arts Prize
Exhibiting artist | CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPES, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
Exhibiting artist | OUTSIDE POWER, National Justice Museum, Nottingham
Exhibiting photographer | LOOSEN ART LANGUAGE, Millepiani Gallery, Rome
Selected artist | THE WORKING ARTIST MAGAZINE
2020
Selected artist | ARTISTS RESPONDING TO, E-Zine
Exhibiting artist | TED LEWIS -GET CARTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
Selected artist | NO JOBS IN THE ARTS, E-Zine
Exhibiting artist | BASSETLAW OPEN, Bassetlaw Museum, Retford
Artist of the month | DARK YELLOW DOT, Online
Shortlisted artist | 2020 VISION: 100 YEARS OF JUSTICE, Magistrates Association
Exhibiting artist | RESTRAINT/CONSTRAINT, National Justice Museum, Nottingham
Exhibiting artist | FERENS OPEN, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
2019
Exhibiting photographer | LIVING PHOTOGRAPHY, The Brunswick, Leeds
Exhibiting artist | THiNK SUMMER OPEN, THiNK Art Gallery, Nottingham
Shortlisted photographer | URBAN 2019 PHOTO AWARDS
Exhibiting artist | WIRKSWORTH ARTS TRAIL, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Exhibiting artist | RAISED BEDS, Djanogly Art Gallery, Nottingham
AWARDS
2021 GRADUATE OF THE YEAR (academic excellence), Nottingham College
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Volunteer Invigilator | QUAD Art Gallery, Derby
Branch Member & Speaker | Creative Mornings, Derby
Stoney Angel Artists | Art Cooperative, founding member
EDUCATION
2018 – 2021 | BA Fine Art, Nottingham College (first class honours)
2017 – 2018 | Access to Art & Design, Nottingham College
1992 – 1995 | PhD Multimedia Technology in Education, University of Nottingham
1991 – 1992 | MSc Information Technology, University of Nottingham
1982 – 1985 | BSc Hons Zoology, University of Nottingham