MICHAEL RICHARDSON

Michael (left) with Ken Howard at RA Varnishing Day

Michael Richardson was born in 1943 and brought up and educated in Ipswich.  He attended the Ipswich School of Art studying Sculpture and Fine Art and continued his studies painting in Paris.

He has had three successful one-man exhibitions in his home town of Ipswich and joined the Wapping Group of Artists in 1997, a very active painting society that has its annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.  Michael's work has also been exhibited at the RSMA (Royal Society of Marine Artists), the RBA (Royal Society of British Artists), the RI (Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour) and at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

As an ex ocean racer, sail maker, boat builder and rigger he is often drawn to Marine subjects and his portrayal of boats is backed by his wealth of technical knowledge and experience in this area.

Michael has travelled extensively, painting and sailing, in Europe, the Caribbean, USA Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. He now lives in East Kent and paints almost every day of the year “en plein air.”

He believes that painting “sur le motif” (in nature) as a modern impressionist is the most fulfilling challenge for a painter’s technique and he never risks tinkering with a  piece later for fear of losing the spontaneity of the on-site response.