A TWYFORD artist is looking forward to a busy spring.
Richard Conway-Jones is planning two exhibitions of his work May.
The first is his open studio, known as “the most beautiful house in the world,” as part of the Henley Arts Trail. It takes place over the early May bank holiday weekend, Saturday, April 30, to Monday, May 2.
The second will be held in the Old Fire Station Gallery, on Market Place in Henley, between Thursday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 24. He will be sharing the space with Adrian Wildman, a modern antiques dealer.
“It will be a retrospective of my career so far,” Richard explains. “With Adrian there too, there will be something for everyone.
“And because they are tricky to organise, I don’t often hold them.”
Richard has been a professional artist since 1987, when he decided that a career in film making was not for him.
“I studied film making at college, but film making is a rich man’s game and I wanted to do something I could actually finish,” he explains.
“Both my grandmother and aunt were artists, and my mother encouraged me to paint.
“I was also lucky to have exhibitions in commercial galleries, including a one-man show, early in my career.”
His work is informed by his film background. He works using oils and creates bold, colourful figurative or landscape paintings on canvas or calico.
Talking to people about his work is something which Richard enjoys as part of the creative process, in both an exhibition and open studio setting.
“The context of where my paintings are displayed make a difference to the conversations I have and the way my work looks,” he says.
“You never know who is going to turn up, some people are very focussed and know exactly what they are interested in.
“But the responses of children are just magical.”
For more information about Richard’s work, which includes music, visit: conway-jones.co.uk
