Richard Young

Joined Artfinder: June 2015

Artworks for sale: 10

(1)

United Kingdom

About Richard Young

 
 
  • Biography

    Biography:

    I am a self-taught, full time professional Artist, born in Yorkshire, in 1961, and now based in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK where I have my gallery, studio and workshop.

    Though I have always had a flair for art, I graduated in engineering in 1983 and with a passion to travel, I initially pursued a career as an engineering and design consultant, holding various managerial roles with international design consulting companies, residing primarily in the Middle East. Nevertheless, an artisan at heart, I returned to Commercial Art in 2003, initially as a semi-professional artist.

    My engineering and project management background has certainly helped me in the technical, administrative and organisational aspects of my art practice and there is also a noticeable influence in my composition and creativity.

     

    Artist’s Statement:

    I have extensively developed my own personal style and technique throughout my career and I create all oil paintings entirely using a knife, often in a limited colour palette and mixing only on the canvas.

    I define my artwork style as being contemporary realism and the technique I employ is a form of segmented alla prima, completed in three wet on wet layers during each painting session: The dark shadows and undertones, the mid tones and then the highlights and light glaze effects. For compositions having a high chiaroscuro effect, I complete the underpainting layer in a lean black paint allowing the sweeping knife application textures to remain and effect the main subject in the second layer which transition into the deep shadows in a drybrush technique by scraping back.

    My figurative compositions are influenced and inspired by the realism and romanticism of my favourite post renaissance classical Masters and their timeless, romantic masterpieces. William Bouguereau in particular. They predominantly entail high contrast, dramatic lighting and shading, as I simply adore light and am fascinated with its arguably undue influence on any subject. With the subjects, I aim to capture a carefully composed aloof anonymity in a moody atmosphere with the drama, passion and emotion in a frozen realism, rather than characteristic individual representation of a traditional portrait.

  • Links
  • Awards

    2019

    Visual Art Open competition

    My painting Mystique was a finalist in the Visual Art Open competition and the original was exhibited in November 2019 at the Chester Arts Fair. It was one of 6 out of over 1,000 fine art entries.

    Show more awards Hide

    2019

    Visual Art Open competition

    My painting Mystique was a finalist in the Visual Art Open competition and the original was exhibited in November 2019 at the Chester Arts Fair. It was one of 6 out of over 1,000 fine art entries.

    2018

    Fine Art Trade Guild's 2018 Art and Framing Awards in the Most Popular Published Artist

    My painting Serene Tranquillity and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2018 Art and Framing Awards in the Most Popular Published Artist category.

    2018

    Artavita's 29th online art contest

    I was given an Excellence Award (Top 50 artists out of 607) in Artavita's 29th online art contest with Freedom, Mystique, Private Dancer and Composure.

    2018

    Artavita's 27th online art contest

    I was given an Excellence Award (Top 50 artists out of 604) in Artavita's 27th online art contest with Individuality, With Deftness, Demure Ballerina and Serene Tranquillity.

    2016

    Fine Art Trade Guild's 2016 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist

    My painting Musing Dancer and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2016 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist category.

    2016

    'The Artist Category 2016 Open Art Competition'

    My painting Refined Grace was a finalist in the 'The Artist Category 2016 Open Art Competition', was amongst 70 selected entries by professional artists from the UK and Worldwide and exhibited at Patchings Art Centre

    2014

    Fine Art Trade Guild's 2014 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist

    My painting Solitaire and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2014 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist category.

    2013

    Red Bubble's 23rd juried invitational Solo Exhibition

    In Red Bubble's 23rd juried invitational Solo Exhibition, Solitaire was judged as '1st Place in Traditional Art' and given a special recognition 'Solo Exhibition' award, given an 'Excellence Award' in the Traditional Painting category and awarded 'Best in Show' overall! A pretty clean sweep...

    2012

    Red Bubble's 19th juried invitational Solo Exhibition

    In Red Bubble's 19th juried invitational Solo Exhibition, Refined Grace was given a special merit 'Excellence Award' in the 'Figurative Painting' category.

    2011

    Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition

    Poise in Silhouette was a finalist in the Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition out of 3,000 entries and was featured in the Creative Works Annual 2012.

    2011

    Artavita competition

    The Passion of Dance was awarded 4th place in the Artavita competition out of 1,200 entries, for which my artwork was featured in the Important World Artists book.

    2011

    Fine Art Trade Guild's Art and Framing Awards in the Art Business Website

    My quaint little home-made website was a finalist in the Fine Art Trade Guild's Art and Framing Awards in the Art Business Website category.

    2010

    Red Bubble's 8th juried invitational Solo Exhibition

    In Red Bubble's 8th juried invitational Solo Exhibition, The Passion of Dance was judged as '1st Place in Traditional Art' and given a special merit 'Inspirational' award in the Traditional category, given another special merit 'Excellence' award in the 'Oil Painting' category and awarded 'Best in Show' overall! A pretty clean sweep...

    2010

    Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition

    Leap into the Unknown was a finalist in the Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition and is therefore featured in the Creative Works Annual 2011.

    2008

    Canon / Art Business Today ‘Print to Win’ competition

    Un Momento Intenso was given a special merit award in the Canon / Art Business Today ‘Print to Win’ competition.

    2008

    Deviant Art 'Best Traditional Artist'

    I was voted as 'Best Traditional Artist' by other forum members on the Deviant Art website. Here's the interview they did with me afterwards.
  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events

    Show previous events Hide previous events

    Previous events

    Event: The Passion of Music and Dance

    Dates: 6 Jan 2019 - 24 Feb 2019

    Venue: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, Berkshire

    A charity exhibition of an eclectic mix of 53 framed fine art prints

Links


Awards

2019

Art In The City Open Competition

My painting Secret Rehearsal was a finalist in the Art In The City Open Competition and the original was featured in the beautiful Gloucester Cathedral.

Show more awards Hide

2019

Visual Art Open competition

My painting Mystique was a finalist in the Visual Art Open competition and the original was exhibited in November 2019 at the Chester Arts Fair. It was one of 6 out of over 1,000 fine art entries.

2018

Fine Art Trade Guild's 2018 Art and Framing Awards in the Most Popular Published Artist

My painting Serene Tranquillity and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2018 Art and Framing Awards in the Most Popular Published Artist category.

2018

Artavita's 29th online art contest

I was given an Excellence Award (Top 50 artists out of 607) in Artavita's 29th online art contest with Freedom, Mystique, Private Dancer and Composure.

2018

Artavita's 27th online art contest

I was given an Excellence Award (Top 50 artists out of 604) in Artavita's 27th online art contest with Individuality, With Deftness, Demure Ballerina and Serene Tranquillity.

2016

Fine Art Trade Guild's 2016 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist

My painting Musing Dancer and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2016 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist category.

2016

'The Artist Category 2016 Open Art Competition'

My painting Refined Grace was a finalist in the 'The Artist Category 2016 Open Art Competition', was amongst 70 selected entries by professional artists from the UK and Worldwide and exhibited at Patchings Art Centre

2014

Fine Art Trade Guild's 2014 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist

My painting Solitaire and I, were finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2014 Art and Framing Awards in the Best-Selling Published Artist category.

2013

Red Bubble's 23rd juried invitational Solo Exhibition

In Red Bubble's 23rd juried invitational Solo Exhibition, Solitaire was judged as '1st Place in Traditional Art' and given a special recognition 'Solo Exhibition' award, given an 'Excellence Award' in the Traditional Painting category and awarded 'Best in Show' overall! A pretty clean sweep...

2012

Red Bubble's 19th juried invitational Solo Exhibition

In Red Bubble's 19th juried invitational Solo Exhibition, Refined Grace was given a special merit 'Excellence Award' in the 'Figurative Painting' category.

2011

Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition

Poise in Silhouette was a finalist in the Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition out of 3,000 entries and was featured in the Creative Works Annual 2012.

2011

Artavita competition

The Passion of Dance was awarded 4th place in the Artavita competition out of 1,200 entries, for which my artwork was featured in the Important World Artists book.

2011

Fine Art Trade Guild's Art and Framing Awards in the Art Business Website

My quaint little home-made website was a finalist in the Fine Art Trade Guild's Art and Framing Awards in the Art Business Website category.

2010

Red Bubble's 8th juried invitational Solo Exhibition

In Red Bubble's 8th juried invitational Solo Exhibition, The Passion of Dance was judged as '1st Place in Traditional Art' and given a special merit 'Inspirational' award in the Traditional category, given another special merit 'Excellence' award in the 'Oil Painting' category and awarded 'Best in Show' overall! A pretty clean sweep...

2010

Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition

Leap into the Unknown was a finalist in the Aesthetica Magazine Creative Works Competition and is therefore featured in the Creative Works Annual 2011.

2008

Canon / Art Business Today ‘Print to Win’ competition

Un Momento Intenso was given a special merit award in the Canon / Art Business Today ‘Print to Win’ competition.

2008

Deviant Art 'Best Traditional Artist'

I was voted as 'Best Traditional Artist' by other forum members on the Deviant Art website. Here's the interview they did with me afterwards.

There are no upcoming events

Show previous events Hide previous events

Previous events

Event: The Passion of Music and Dance

Dates: 6 Jan 2019 - 24 Feb 2019

Venue: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, Berkshire

A charity exhibition of an eclectic mix of 53 framed fine art prints


 

Biography

Biography:

I am a self-taught, full time professional Artist, born in Yorkshire, in 1961, and now based in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK where I have my gallery, studio and workshop.

Though I have always had a flair for art, I graduated in engineering in 1983 and with a passion to travel, I initially pursued a career as an engineering and design consultant, holding various managerial roles with international design consulting companies, residing primarily in the Middle East. Nevertheless, an artisan at heart, I returned to Commercial Art in 2003, initially as a semi-professional artist.

My engineering and project management background has certainly helped me in the technical, administrative and organisational aspects of my art practice and there is also a noticeable influence in my composition and creativity.

 

Artist’s Statement:

I have extensively developed my own personal style and technique throughout my career and I create all oil paintings entirely using a knife, often in a limited colour palette and mixing only on the canvas.

I define my artwork style as being contemporary realism and the technique I employ is a form of segmented alla prima, completed in three wet on wet layers during each painting session: The dark shadows and undertones, the mid tones and then the highlights and light glaze effects. For compositions having a high chiaroscuro effect, I complete the underpainting layer in a lean black paint allowing the sweeping knife application textures to remain and effect the main subject in the second layer which transition into the deep shadows in a drybrush technique by scraping back.

My figurative compositions are influenced and inspired by the realism and romanticism of my favourite post renaissance classical Masters and their timeless, romantic masterpieces. William Bouguereau in particular. They predominantly entail high contrast, dramatic lighting and shading, as I simply adore light and am fascinated with its arguably undue influence on any subject. With the subjects, I aim to capture a carefully composed aloof anonymity in a moody atmosphere with the drama, passion and emotion in a frozen realism, rather than characteristic individual representation of a traditional portrait.