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 blend 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 doors 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
2026
1926 GENERAL STRIKE CENTENARY EXHIBITION, Nicholas Cliff Gallery, Scarborough
75 YEARS OF NATIONAL PARKS EXHIBITION, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
STREET ART FEST 2026, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
PERENNIAL EXHIBITION, Haarlem Artspace, Wirksworth
STILL LIFE/FOUND OBJECT EXHIBITION, Glasgow Gallery of Photography
DARK PEAK PHOTO FESTIVAL LITE, Glossop
2025
LANDSCAPES, Collect Art, online
PERENNIAL EXHIBITION, Haarlem Artspace, Wirksworth
DARK PEAK PHOTO FESTIVAL LITE, Glossop
2024
FLOWERS EXHIBITION, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
MUSE EXHIBITION, Fox Yard Art Gallery, Stowmarket
GALLERY INFORMAL ISSUE 3, online
2023
BEAUTY IN MUNDANITY ARTICLE, Left Lion Magazine, Nottingham
SUMMER EXHIBITION, Open Gallery, Halifax
2022
FRONTEER OPEN EXHIBITION, Yorkshire Art Space, Sheffield
ART WAVES EXHIBITION, Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
STREET ART FEST 2022, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
DRAWING EXHIBITION, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
ABSTRACT EXHIBITION, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
FERENS OPEN EXHIBITION, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
2021
LAND ART, Haus-a-Rest Arts E-Zine
CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITS EXHIBITION, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
SHERWOOD ART WEEK, Nottingham
WIRKSWORTH FESTIVAL, Online Arts Prize
CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPES EXHIBITION, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
OUTSIDE POWER EXHIBITION, National Justice Museum, Nottingham
LOOSEN ART LANGUAGE, Millepiani Gallery, Rome
2020
ARTISTS RESPONDING TO, E-Zine
TED LEWIS -GET CARTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
NO JOBS IN THE ARTS, E-Zine
BASSETLAW OPEN EXHIBITION, Bassetlaw Museum, Retford
ARTIST OF THE MONTH| Dark Yellow Dot, Online
2020 VISION: 100 YEARS OF JUSTICE EXHIBITION, Magistrates Association
RESTRAINT/CONSTRAINT EXHIBITION, National Justice Museum, Nottingham
FERENS OPEN EXHIBITION, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
2019
LIVING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, The Brunswick, Leeds
THiNK SUMMER OPEN EXHIBITION, THiNK Art Gallery, Nottingham
URBAN 2019 PHOTO AWARDS
WIRKSWORTH ARTS TRAIL, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
RAISED BEDS EXHIBITION, 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