Richard Wheatland
About The Artist:
Richard has been drawing and painting almost since able to hold a pencil. His family background is full of artistic and engineering talent, and it was with the help of his artistically gifted aunt that Richard first became engrossed in the world of painting.
Whilst Richard remains largely self-taught, he was regarded as a gifted art student at school but was encouraged by his parents to train for a ‘proper job’ and followed a career in engineering. Consequently the artistic ambitions remained but purely on a spare time basis. From the age of about ten years Richard took an interest on motor racing and aviation, following visits to air shows and motor racing meetings it was inevitable that this interest transferred itself into his early drawing and painting efforts. Much later it was undoubtedly the combination of Richard’s engineering and artistic talents that were to prove pivotal in his artist career, his painting becoming increasingly admired for their high level of accuracy and meticulously researched technical detail.
Richard’s first public art display was at the historical site of Brooklands Motor Course in 1982. Encouraged by the success of this first show he repeated his displays at the venue for several years. Since those early successful showings, Richard has exhibited at many prestigious venues, from specialist London galleries to a restaurant in Monaco and an exhibition in Connecticut USA. More recently Richard has become very much part of the motoring art establishment, his work is regularly featured as part of group shows at well-known motor sporting venues such as Silverstone and Goodwood. After well over twenty years in the business Richard’s work graces many private collections worldwide.
Motoring enthusiasts may recognise Richard’s work from his Christmas card paintings for the UK motor industry benevolent charity ‘BEN’. Richard is a great supporter of this worthwhile cause and has worked closely with them since 1989. His card designs are highly sort after and each year continue to raise much-needed funds for the charity. Richard has been involved in many other projects for BEN including limited edition prints, newspaper adverting and brochure covers. Many of his original paintings have also raised money for BEN at auction.
He has become accepted in all spheres of transport art with his aviation and marine subjects receiving ever-increasing attention. It is not unusual to find Richard’s paintings using a combination of subjects land, sea and air in a single painting. Richard often returns to his original love of landscape and architecture for inspiration and often marks a special visit to a memorable location by committing a scene to canvas.
Categories:
Classic Car, Exotic Car, Motorsport, Illustration, Portrait
Website:
http://www.richardwheatland.com
Anne D'Alton
Fabulous work – I feel that I am actually with the cars. Congratulations.