Born in England I spent most of my working life as a sheep farmer first in Australia and latterly -having immigrated to the Falkland Islands in 1964- managing a 150,000 acre sheep farm in the Islands. In later years having retired from farming, I tried my hand at commercial wool processing, road building and finally helping to set up a Graphic design business with my family. In the next twelve years I served in the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly retiring from public life before elections in 2009.

Richard at work on a painting

While serving on the Legislative Assembly my position involved a lot of travelling and in 1999 during a break in Europe and  although not having done any painting since I left school I decided out of the blue to take a painting holiday. Good fortune took me to meet up with David McEwen who with his wife Sally runs residential painting holidays in the South of France. David encouraged me to take up watercolour painting and this site shows the result. I now paint mainly landscapes, the subjects being the wonderful rugged hills and seashores. In addition I try to replicate the ever changing light in the huge skies.

I cannot miss this opportunity to express my eternal gratitude and thanks to David and Sally not only for their friendship but also David's help, encouragement and cajoling without which I would never have developed my painting further than a passing interest.

I should also take this opportunity to thank Jane Cotter in the Pink Shop in Stanley who tries to keep up with my needs for materials and mounts and also frames my efforts, she also acts as my agent and only commercial outlet. Jane frequently has to press me to get painting when other interests are inclined to take over for which I eternally grateful.

Finally I also must expressed my thanks to Tom Swales the managing Director of Stanley Services who has been a staunch supporter and promoter of my work.

Without the inspiration of these people I think that I would find it hard to produce the amount of work that I do.