Category Archives: Fine Art

Prints of Whitstable Sunsets

Whitstable is a quintessentially English seaside town in the Canterbury district, on the north coast of Kent adjoining the convergence of the Swale Estuary and the Greater Thames Estuary in south-eastern England, five miles north of Canterbury and two miles west of Herne Bay. It has been attracting visitors for centuries with its charm, beautiful scenery and cosy atmosphere.

All original oil on canvas paintings are listed on :
Available Paintings- March 2024

Established land and seascape painter Ric W. Horner focuses in his work on the elemental qualities of light, the energy of weather and the drama of the sea. He creates highly atmospheric paintings that often feature coastal and harbour scenes in Kentish places such as Whitstable, Seasalter, Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate and the views towards Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey.

Above: prints on paper £ 25 – £ 40 (un-mounted)

Many of Ric’s paintings that have been made into prints focus on this area. You can purchase them online them directly from this website at the link: NEW! Large framed prints, or pick them up at his exhibitions. Prices for large framed prints are:

  • long 65 x 36cm – £ 130
  • rectangular 61 x 48cm – £ 145
  • square 61 x 61cm – £ 160

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If you are interested in smaller prints go to: Mounted Prints | or Prints on paper in our shop.

Above: print on paper ‘Evening at Whitstable Harbour”, 40 x 50cm including mount £ 45

Above: print on paper of Whitstable Harbour in turquoise tones, 45 x 45cm – framed £ 80

Above: print on paper of Whitstable Harbour, 30 x 42cm (no mount) £ 15

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Ric has also recently produced over 50 Whitstable and Kent-themed greeting cards. At the moment, they are only available directly from the artist, but he is working on distributing them to various retailers in the region. You can order a catalogue at the link below:

Cards | Ric W. Horner

To arrange a studio visit call 07835294317, or email enquiries@richorner.com.

Original water colour studies and prints in Ric’s studio.

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Artists Open Houses 2023

Ric works in a modern classical way and creates atmospheric, light-filled land and seascapes. The sublime light of his paintings is characteristic of a style called Luminism. He takes part every year in the East Kent Artist’s Open Houses (https://ekoh.org.uk/whitstable). If you’ve missed this event last October, get in touch to arrange a studio visit.

Canterbury Cathedral prints

He and his partner were in house 13 on the Whitstable trail. For directions go to:  https://ekoh.org.uk/…/65-joy-lane-sherrins-alley…/ There were are a lot of Kentish landscapes, large Whitstable beach scenes and stunning views of Canterbury Cathedral on show, which were all very well received.

However, he still has wonderful new range of smaller oil paintings, as well as high-quality greeting cards and prints available. They can be picked up directly from his studio on West Beach.

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Artist working on Whitstable Beach

It’s now 11 years that Ric W. Horner has lived in the late Dan Sherrin’s (1869 – 1940) quirky cottage on The Saxon Shore Way in Whitstable,  a long-distance footpath in England, which starts at Gravesend, Kent, and traces the coast of South-East England for 163 miles in total. He is one in a long line of artists , writers and novelists that made the town their home, for reasons such as the gorgeous light and stunning sunsets. 

Ric focuses in his work on the elemental qualities of open space, the energy of weather and the expressive frequencies of light. Over time Ric has recorded the dynamic changes in weather, atmosphere and cloud formations that one sees in this area, focusing predominantly on the views across the Swale Estuary towards the Isle of Sheppey. 

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Artist Dan Sherrin was an artist that could not be missed about the town, as he insisted on wearing the most outrageously chequer plus-fours and his love of beer was legendary. Dan was also a famous self-publicist of the most humorous kind, a practical joker who not only poked fun at those in authority – he even built his own airplane and created a spoof fire brigade!  

One of his paintings still hangs in Buckingham Palace, as he was once commissioned by King George V. Furthermore. An elderly neighbour who lived nearby in Preston Parade Seasalter, has told Ric that he recalls seeing Winston Churchill plus entourage on the little foot bridge on Preston Parade, viewing the newly installed gun battery, which was right in front of the house in about 1943.

 

J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) described the famous sunsets along the North Kent coast as some of the best in the world and just like Turner, Ric also explores the unique atmospheres found in this area. He says:

“My work has as much to do with the changing weather; encompassing all sorts of environmental conditions, which can range massively from attractive and peaceful to threatening and dangerous,  as well as with the geographical location. Since moving into the late artist Dan Sherrin’s old cottage, I have set up my studio at the front of the house, which overlooks the sea. 

This has changed my working practice profoundly, as I now have a myriad of subject matter in front of me and I am less dependent on notes and colour sketches. I can now work directly on canvas from my subject and study in detail various sea states and “light events” which may have previously evaded me. It’s become possible to study storms in greater detail and track showers and their influence on the sea in some degree of comfort. Sadly, despite the house’s prominence and history, time and gravity has taken its toll, leaving it bereft of level floors, so when I first moved in, the horizon appeared to lean when looking out from my studio!”

Recently, in February 2024 another artist, internationally acclaimed sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has installed an activist group of people outside The Old Neptune Pub on West Beach called Sirens of Sewage. Originally intended for placement in a tidal area along the adjacent coastline, the project encountered resistance from local authorities and is now situated on private land less than 10 away from Ric’s studio, and well worth visiting. 

This painting is sold but cards and prints available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Paintings of Salcombe

The UK coastline is some of the most beautiful in Europe and has a huge number of sailing towns that range from rocky and scenic to stylish destinations known to visitors from around the world. You just can’t beat the rugged cliffs and lush green landscape of England, which is unofficially the ‘home of sailing’ and it has a long and glorious tradition of boat building and for rearing fine sailors.

South Devon is more sedate and often warmer, sunnier than North Devon. It also gets lower rainfall. Salcombe in particular is known for its outstanding views, rolling surrounding countryside, breath-taking natural beauty, sparkling turquoise waters and rugged cliffs. It is a pretty coastal town with lovely spots for sailing traditional boats, or classic yachts. Salcombe was once a major port for the fruit trade and, over the years, has found fame as a safe haven for family holidays and visiting yachtsmen. It is situated at the southern end of the Salcombe Estuary; the estuary is, in fact, a ria which is a landlocked, salt water inlet, with stunning beaches.

Sailing around the UK will get you out of the crowded Solent and into waters further afield. This adventure involves open-ocean and much more offshore-orientated sailing, which may mean rougher weather and more challenging conditions. Ilfracombe in North Devon and Bardsey Island in North Wales for example are far more open to the elements as they catch the Atlantic ocean swells to a greater extent than places further South. This means bigger waves and longer and sandy beaches.

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From August 2017 to February 2018 Ric was represented by the Tonic Gallery in Island Street, Salcombe, South Devon. 

 https://tonicgallery.co.uk

Salcombe Tonic Gallery

Sadly, this arrangement has now come to an end.

Salcombe estuary – sold
Tonic Gallery Salcombe
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Ric has recently created a new range of greeting cards of the British coastline. Have a look at the selection below, or you can also request a card catalogue:

Cards

Some of the larger seascapes are also still available. Please view the front page for more details.

Many thanks.

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Exhibition at The Sportsman Seasalter

Ric created a solo exhibition at  the award winning ‘The Sportsman’ in Seasalter back in 2015 featuring the inspiring scenery of the Thames estuary.  This famous Michelin star pub is located 2 miles out of Whitstable, on the North Kent coast and is popular with weekend visitors and many Londoners. It is nicely furbished with rolling exhibitions showcasing the work of local artists. 

 

 

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