Established land & seascape painter Ric 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 oil paintings featuring classic Kent coast and harbour scenes, as well as the stunning sunsets seen on Whitstable beach.
He has recently set up apermanent display at the front of his house with a rolling exhibition of finished pieces. This gallery space is open on weekends from 10:30am – 5pm.
If you are visiting Whitstable, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artist in his studio, pick up some lovely greeting cards and view his original paintings while passing by on a scenic (circular) walk only 20min from town centre. You can combine it with stops at some of our most well-known pubs: The Old Neptune on West Beach, The Rose in Bloom in Joy Lane, (next door to Ric’s place), and The Sportsman gastro pub in Seasalter.
To arrange a visit, call 07835294317, or email enquiries@richorner.com
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Ric collaborates on site with his partner Annett, who works in a bold, expressive, semi-abstract way. In her art, she focuses mostly on their beautiful koi fish pond and wildlife garden.
For centuries, Margate has drawn in visitors with its golden sandy bay and shallow tidal pool. As one of England’s first grand seaside resorts, the town continues to live up to its reputation as the go-to for summer holidays.
Ric grew up in this area and has painted the stunning views over Margate Sands many times. He has also painted the utterly spectacular Ramsgate Harbour with its charming old town coastal architecture, blend of colourful history, rich cultural traditions, and breath-taking coast line.
Margate has recently grown to be quite an artistic hub for Kent. Ever since the opening of the Turner Contemporary in 2011, it has grown increasingly trendy and attracted a rise of down-from-Londoners moving to the area. The Old Town is an excellent place to start your adventure as it is often buzzing with daily activities of locals and tourists alike. There are a variety of art galleries, who are celebrating Margate’s connection with the painter J. M. W. Turner.
J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) described the famous sunsets along the North Kent coast as some of the best sunsets in the world and just like he did, Ric now continues this line and explores the unique light and atmospheres found in this area.
The Turner Contemporary gallery has exhibited the works of countless international artists, including Turner Prize nominees and winners Antony Gormley, Jeremy Deller, Tracey Emin, Yinka Shonibare, Paula Rego and Grayson Perry.
Ric is currently looking to sell his greeting cards and prints in the wider Kentish area. If you are a retailer and interested in stocking any of these cards, get in touch via enquiries@richorner.com, or order a pack of 9 cards directly from his shop:
It is now 12 years since Ric moved into the cottage built by the eccentric painter Dan Sherrin – a small summer residency on the seafront in a secluded garden on The Saxon Shore Way, 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.
Eccentric painter Dan Sherrin (1869 – 1940) 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 Dan’s paintings still hangs in Buckingham Palace, as he was once commissioned by King George V.
An elderly neighbour who lived nearby, 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.
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“Since moving into Dan Sherrin’s 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 wealth of natural beauty in front of me and I am less dependent on notes and colour sketches.”
“My paintings have much to do with the changing energy of weather; encompassing all sorts of environmental conditions, which can range massively from attractive, peaceful and scenic to threatening and dangerous.
I can now work directly on canvas while engaging with my subject and depict various sea states and light events that may have otherwise evaded me. It has become possible to study storms in greater detail and track showers and their influence on the sea in some degree of comfort. These paintings are therefore composed in my imagination based on observed realities. They are true to my inner eye. Unfortunately, despite the house’s prominence and history, time and gravity have taken their toll, leaving every floor uneven, so when I first moved in, the horizon appeared to lean when looking out from the window!”
Ric opens his studio to the public on most days throughout the year. You can now visit him and buy his original paintings, prints and greeting cards directly from him.
