Hi, I’m Richard.
I’ve enjoyed painting for as long as I can remember. It started at school and never really stopped. These days I work in a fairly busy IT role, and painting is how I slow things down — a way to switch off, focus on one thing at a time, and find a bit of quiet. I genuinely enjoy it, and that’s reason enough for me to keep painting.
I’ve worked in a few different mediums over the years, but I mostly use acrylics. They suit the way I work — they’re forgiving if you make mistakes and easier to adjust as a painting develops. I still occasionally use watercolours, and sometimes pen and ink, or a combination of both, depending on the subject.
What I enjoy most is the process. Starting with an outline, building up blocks of colour, and then adding shadows and detail to give depth to what started as a flat image. I try to record parts of that process along the way — the journey is half the fun — and I share some of it on my YouTube channel if you’re interested in seeing how a piece comes together.
I tend to paint landscapes, animals, and still life — things that don’t move too much. I’ve never been good at painting people, so I don’t force it. I stick to subjects I enjoy and feel drawn to.
I moved to New Zealand from the UK about 20 years ago for work and ended up staying after spending time in Queenstown. I later settled in Auckland, where I’ve lived for the past 12 years. Before moving into IT I worked in hotels, and now I work for a company that provides IT and finance services for charities, which I find genuinely fulfilling. I also volunteer with the Burnett Foundation.
New Zealand offers far more variety to paint than where I grew up in Darlington — from mountains and coastlines to native birds and quieter everyday scenes. I also have more time now to paint properly, which has made a big difference.
If you see something here that resonates with you, I’m glad. And if you’re curious about how a particular piece was made, feel free to get in touch — I’m always happy to talk about the work.