Philip RICHARDSON

The artist writes:

‘..though the representational image is important it is merely my source material, I always regard the paintings as abstracts...I suppose one could say that I am taking the eye on a journey within the confines of a rectangle via the dynamics of pictorial composition; a journey that will encounter colours, textures, shapes & tones - a wholly sensual experience. This experience is built on the structure and data of the image in front of me though at the same time completely independent of it, it is an encounter with the paint itself which I believe is ‘painting’ at its purest...Now we are in the 21st century artists are very lucky no longer having the constraints and obligations of the past. They do not have to conform to modernity or to be ‘contemporary’ as in the last century, nor are they bound by the pictorial image as before.Painting ought now to have a positive future...As I work I am constantly thankful for this liberation: I feel I can address fully the purpose of painting which is to create the sensual experience I mention above. Of course such freedom brings enormous difficulties...the possibilities are now limitless but the exact solutions seem scarce and elusive. It is a challenge I find enormously exciting - there is always so much still to do, so much to learn..." Philip Richardson 2008

Philip’s total devotion to his art and painting in general is seen through his work. Paint surface, colour representation, and composition have always been important to him. The immediacy conveyed when you look at his work is deceptive, an image emerges from the clever use of a simple colour range and shape to build up the complete picture. His work is relaxing, pure but totally involving and a delight to have in any home.

Noel Oddy and Laurie MacLaren March 2008

Having been privileged to follow the development of Philip's painting technique for the last ten years, we have absolutely no hesitation in saying that this show is his best ever. It is also clear he now feels a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders.Noel Oddy and Laurie MacLaren,2008

Selected one-man exhibitions:

Belle Arte Polumbo,Milan 1981;Galleria Red Baron, Siena 1989; Gallery Forty-Seven, London 1992; Sevenoaks Library Gallery,Kent94;Margate Library Gallery,Kent 95; Ashford Library Gallery, Kent 96;Fairfax Gallery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent 96;

Enid Lawson Gallery,London 96,97,99,2001,03,04;

The Cottage Gallery, Huntingdon 1998, 2001;

Highgate Fine Art, London 1999, 2001,2003,05,08

Selected group shows:

Stephanie Knight Gallery, London 1990;Francis Iles Gallery, Rochester, Kent 1990;Thackeray Gallery, London 1990;New Academy Gallery,London 1995;Star Gallery Lewes Summer 1996; Woodgates Gallery, East Bergholt, Suffolk 1996,99;New Grafton Gallery, London 1996;

Patisserie Valerie Knightsbridge,London1999,2000; Francis Iles Gallery, Kent 2001;

Highgate Fine Art 1998,2000,02,03,04,05,08