Ray Richardson

Born in London in 1964, Ray Richardson studied Fine Art both St Martins School of Art and Goldsmiths. Richardson began exhibiting his work in 1988 and has since shown his work extensively at galleries including, Galerie Alain Blondel, Paris, Boycott Gallery, Brussels and Beaux Arts, London. Richardson has been the recipient of three British Council Awards and was made Artist in Residence for Eton College in 2012. Richardson's work is held in numerous collections including The British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Richardson's self-portrait was acquired by Ruth Borchard Collection in 2015.

Once described as the 'Martin Scorsese of painting', Richardson describes his painting as a mixture of premeditation and improvisation. His preferred subjects are often groups of men in stoic formations and dogs (particularly English Bull Terriers). Richardson finds much inspiration for his work in Cinema Noir and films such a Goodfellas.

Richardson's interest in cinema is evident in his self-portrait in oil paint with the artist poised stoically, hand raised to his mouth in cold contemplation, akin to the likes of Marlon Brando in The Godfather.