THROUGHOUT an extremely productive career as a watercolour artist Richard Gawthorpe has won national awards, raised vast amounts of money for charities, taught workshops and classes throughout Yorkshire and the Lake District, been published in books and magazines, and exhibited nationwide.

Raising money for charities nationwide forms the basis for his work though, with proceeds of sales from paintings, calendars, cards and fine art prints contributing. Kirkwood Hospice in West Yorkshire have had over £300,000 donated, other recipients to name a few are Northorpe Hall and Family Trust, Cumbria Cerebral Palsy and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

Richard has also exhibited at both the British Watercolour Society and British Society of Painters for over 25 years, becoming Chairman of the Selection Committee for both. In 2007 he won the Old Masters award at the British Watercolour Society, and in 2015 the Huddersfield Examiner Arts Council award.  In and amongst all of this is an interest for local history which culminated in an exhibition of paintings depicting ‘Kirklees Estate’ held at Ravensknowle Museum, Huddersfield from 2018 to 2020.

He continues to paint and teach in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.

Richard’s work can be seen in Gallery at The Art Shop, Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, LS29 9DU, between 9.30am 5.30pm, from May 3 to June 12, 2021.