Richard Twose was born in Devon in 1963. He studied 3D Design at the University of Creative Arts, Farnham 1986 to 1989. After graduating he became a jewellery designer in London. For 13 years Richard sold his jewellery collections worldwide- during this period he was also a visiting lecturer at the University of Brighton and Camberwell Art College.
In 2000 Richard decided to step away from designing jewellery and moved from London to a village near Bath. Whilst teaching art and history of art at a sixth form college in Bristol he began to paint portraits.
Richard’s paintings have been exhibited at galleries throughout the UK since 2009. In 2014 Richard was awarded second prize at the BP Portrait Award in the National Portrait Gallery. Richard spent time with Gifford’s Circus drawing circus performers during rehearsals, he went on to work closely with a group of acrobatic from CircoMedia, Bristol and observed and drew dancers during rehearsals for The Odyssey – Mark Bruce Contemporary Dance Company.
In 2017 Richard’s portrait of Ken Loach was selected for the BP Portrait Award and he was also commissioned by Oxford University to paint Ken Loach again. This portrait was exhibited in the Bodleian Library and will hang permanently in the Examinations Halls. Richard also exhibited at Catto Gallery, London – Solo Exhibition A Flicker In The Continuum and the catalogue introduction was written by Edward Lucie Smith.
Richard is currently Artist In Residence at Elisabeth Frink’s studio at Woolland House, Dorset.
Selected Exhibitions/Commissions
2019
Selected for the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize, Piano Nobile Gallery
Portrait Commission – Lord Macdonald, Warden, Wadham College, Oxford University
Portrait Commission – Catherine Hughes, Principal 1986 – 1996, Somerville College, Oxford University
Solo exhibition at Catto Gallery, London
2018
Portrait of Ken Loach (BP Portrait Award) on display in the Victoria Gallery, Bath
Solo exhibition ‘In Flux’ at Thomson’s Gallery, Marylebone, London
Artist in Residence at Elisabeth Frink’s studio Woolland, in Dorset
Minerva Owl Sculpture Trail ‘Cornucopi-owl’, commissioned by The Ivy Brasserie, Bath
Commission to paint Retired Chairman Robert Swannell for Marks and Spencer
2017
A second portrait of Ken Loach selected for the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery
‘A Flicker in the Continuum’ Solo show, Catto Gallery, London
Commissioned by Oxford University to paint Ken Loach for the Vice Chancellor’s Diversity in Portraiture Project
Member of the Vice Chancellor of the Oxford University Equality and Diversity Group
2016
Winner: The Open Award; The Royal West of England Academy
Bath Society of Artists ‘Drawing, Technique and Purpose’ – The Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Society
Finalist – Beep International Painting Competition, The Halcyon Gallery
Finalist: Black Swan Open, sponsored by Hauser and Wirth
September – Frieze London – House of Nobleman
Thompson’s Gallery , New Cavendish St, London
Wychwood Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold
‘Hypnos’ Solo show, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle
2015
Royal College of Art, Artist in Residence
Commissioned by Somerville College, Oxford University to paint the Principal Dr Alice Prochaska
Thompson’s Gallery, New Cavendish Street, London W1
Junction Gallery, Woodstock – ‘Interiors’
‘Green Shoots’ Darren Baker Gallery, Charlotte St. London
2014
Viscountess Rosie Grimston commission
ING Discerning Eye exhibition, Mall Galleries
BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London. Second prize for ‘Portrait of Jean Woods’
‘Secret Lives’ – Beaux Arts Gallery, Bath
‘Transient Bodies’ – View Gallery, Bristol
The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle
20/21, Royal College of Art
2013
‘Momentum’ View Gallery, Bristol
Bath Society of Artists’ Summer Show
The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle
20/21 Royal College of Art
2012
Bath Society of Artists’ Summer Show- Winner: The Victoria Prize
‘All That We Are’ Bath Contemporary Gallery, Bath
‘Hidden Portraits’ View Gallery Bristol
2011
‘Form and Colour’ – Paintworks Gallery, Bristol
