Richard Bawden NEAC RWS RE

Statement

Many things stimulate and inspire Richard: scale, mood, atmosphere, austerity and the abstract, but also intricate, decorative texture. Paradoxically, he might be inspired by complete opposites. Richard enjoys many aspects of design; engraved glass, cast iron furniture, textiles and typography.

Methodology

Richard is a painter, printmaker and designer. As an artist he works from life. That is his starting point; it is how he feels, sees and interprets a visual image. Richard believes in drawing; the very act is intensely emotional. He has a natural sense of design and logic which he uses in his work.

Richard paints in watercolour on location; interiors that have atmosphere; people whom he knows; and always my cats. He uses a dip pen, which he feeds with watercolour, as well as painting directly.

Richard has two etching presses and a large Albion press for printing linocuts. Lino is very uncompromising, but etching is painterly. A print is a means of taking an idea a stage further; everything has to be consciously resolved.

The thinking time is always very long.

Bio

1936 Born on 18 March in Braintree, Essex

1955-57 Studied at Chelsea School of Art and St Martins School of Art

1962 Became an Associate of the Royal College of Art

1962-2003 Part-time teaching at the following art schools: Hastings, Walthamstow, Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree and City & Guilds

1984 Elected as a Member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers

1984-92 Chairman Gainsboroughs House Print Workshop

1986-97 Member of the Board of Governors, Gainsboroughs House

1994-2008 Tutor for weekend printmaking courses at Broadlands Art Centre, Norfolk

1996 Elected a Member of the Royal Watercolour Society (served on Council)

2006 Elected as a Member of the New English Art Club

Memberships

Royal Watercolour Society, Associate of the Royal College of Art, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Gainsboroughs House Print Workshop