Passionate about ecology, King seeks out unique locations which are under threat of ecological change. Having witnessed environmental changes first-hand, Richard is a voice in presenting the transient beauty of our planet which may be lost to future generations.
Richard King MA is a landscape artist who paints our ‘Fragile Planet’ on glass.
Residing in Birmingham, UK, Richard King is a professional artist and a part-time Art Teacher. He has over twenty years of experience in teaching art at Schools and Colleges and possesses his own Masters Degree in Fine Art from Wolverhampton University.
An unconventional method of painting on glass
The artist witnesses a scene, photographs it and then recreates the seascapes and landscapes in his studio by painting onto glass. He starts with the foreground and works ‘backwards’, painting underneath the side of glass that is intended for display. His unconventional method was honed after experimenting with various surfaces to achieve the results he sought after. The overall effect is a soft gradient of colour and tone whereas a strong range of contrast results in vivid scenes that he found he could not achieve as effectively on canvas. Light and atmosphere are central here and have been inspired by Turner. Richard’s love affair with nature and his appreciation of its fragility is only emphasised by the direct application onto glass.
Inspiration from outdoor adventures
Richard’s favourite subject matter is our ‘Fragile Planet.’ Experiencing and portraying breath-taking scenes is a result of both land and water expeditions that the artist undertakes.
Richard King is a professional coach and four-star white-water Canoe and Kayak leader with vast experience. Kayaking all over Europe, he was selected for his expertise in 2014 as one of a specialist elite to paddle the highest river in the world, the Zanska Gorge, North India, Himalayas.
Another of the artist’s passions is mountaineering. Many of the expeditions to mountain scenes are as a result of gruelling treks to remote areas of outstanding natural beauty in various European countries. To name a few, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the French Alps, Scotland (Ben Nevis), Snowdonia, North Wales Crib Goch and Devils Kitchen have provided artistic inspiration.
