Paintings of Margate promenade and clock tower

Ric’s artistic journey began on the North Kent coast, around Cliftonville in Margate, where, as a boy, he spent long hours sketching the beaches and absorbing the drama of the sea. That early exposure to the shifting moods of the coast laid the foundation for a career marked by a preoccupation with the elemental: light, cloud, tide, and wind.

As one of England’s first grand seaside resorts, Margate has drawn in visitors with its golden sandy bay and shallow tidal pool for for centuries. Ever since the opening of the Turner Contemporary in 2011, it has become increasingly trendy and attracted a rise of down-from-Londoners moving to the area. It has grown quite into an artistic hub for Kent..

Ric says about it his work:

“I was a very keen painter from an early age and had great art teachers at my school in Margate. For me, the art room offered a degree of freedom not available in other subjects. I later studied graphics at Canterbury and then Fine Art at Exeter, situated near the inspiring Dartmoor National Park. This is where I developed a strong interest in landscape painting.”

“After graduating, I moved up onto the moor and started making and selling my work locally, and further afield in Bristol and London. I later moved to the capital and continued developing my art, setting up a studio in Tooting, and qualifying as an art teacher for FE. Eventually I decided to leave London and having grown up on the coast, was drawn back to Kent (Whitstable) in the late 90’s. I had a clear aim of developing my painting practice, particularly in regard to seascapes and its light and weather.”

“As a 6-year-old, I can remember being amazed and fascinated by the towering white chalk cliffs at Botany Bay in Thanet. The way they dazzled in sunlight, combined with deep violet shadows, they made a deep impression on me and I think underpinned my interest with light and colour.

Kent has such a vast range of possibilities for a landscape painter, it is inherently picturesque, and I often try to reflect that in its interpretation.”

Ric stocks a range of different greeting cards and prints on the subject of Margate that are currently available from his studio.

If you are a retailer and interested in any of these cards, get in touch via enquiries@richorner.com..

A selection of Margate paintings is now also available from the artist’s studio.

View this post on Instagram

.

Related Images: