Richard OConnell
Richard O'Connell is a figurative painter specialising in coastal scenes, landscapes and symbolistic compositions. He has studios in Penarth and the Cotswolds allowing a full variety of subject matter. The basis of his artwork is a fascination with form, structure, time and space.
The images displayed below are recent drawings based on civic sculptures around the city of Cardiff. They include the famous 'animal wall' of Cardiff Castle. His preparation work for the final finished series of drawings started last year and covered a period of several months working on site. It resulted in two completed sketchbooks and a number of photographs.
Richard says of his work; "I have used oil pastels which I have recently rediscovered after a very long lay off. They are a delight to use forcing real challenges when remixing tonal colours. For the first time I have used coloured pastel papers which react brilliantly with a variety of colour combinations."
Art schools attended:
- Swansea College of Art 1965–66
- Norwich School of Art 1966–69
- Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford University 1972–74
Prizes:
- Second Prize at the Royal Mint Llantrisant Open Art Competition 1992
- First Prize at The Rhondda Heritage Park Open Art Competition 2006
- First Prize at The Vale of Glamorgan Art Central Open 2009
Paintings purchased by Balliol College, Cardiff City County Council and Rheinfelden Council, Germany.
