A journey amidst adversity, led to a path of transformative therapy, through the playful acts of walking and painting.
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Walking can be a call for revolution. I am a nonconformist in an act of rebellion against the motor car.
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My inspiration comes from the landscape: be that urban, suburban, or rural.
ABOUT


About Me
Biography
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Richard J Benbow is a multi-disciplinary artist based in the Big Apple. He attended the University of Salford in the UK between 2017 - 2022 completing a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Contemporary Fine Art, in which he wrote an 8000-word thesis named 'Walking in the World, Painting in the Present.' Benbow graduated with First-Class Honours and a Distinction. In 2018, as part of his extra-curricular activities, he took part in Life Drawing classes and won the Howarth Life Drawing Prize, later travelling to Berlin with the bursary award. Benbow's current practice focuses predominantly on painting. He explores the local landscape and reacts to his environs; researching through photography, sketching & drawing in various mediums, utilising recording technology, satellite maps, note taking, poetry, sense connections to his surroundings, and psychological aspects such as dreams. Benbow then translates this information to produce various degrees of abstracted interpretations of the landscape.
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Artist Statement
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Richard J Benbow produces lyrical abstract paintings, carefully balancing calligraphic marks within the pictorial space of a non-traditional landscape format/ space. Benbow traces and tracks the performativity of the gesture and produces fluid abstractions that intuitively refer to experienced and semi-imagined landscape formed from thoughts linked to sense connections, time, place, historical, and geographical narratives.
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The protection of our environment is paramount in this age of climate uncertainty, species extinction, and plastic pollution. Benbow experienced the landscape of his homeland : rolling hills, valley floors, ancient woodlands, farmsteads and the tide and flow of waterways. These vistas invigorated and inspired him. However, he is also scared, and ill-at-ease with the impact humans have on the planet and what lies before us in this near future. Benbow experienced the parochial quietitude of suburbia and caused scandal and upheaval. He explored the rural, and the edgelands, traversed the city and walked countless streets finding community amongst chaos and solitude among people.
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Line, colour, tone, gestural brushstrokes are his weapons to mobilise his message. Large brushes produce sweeping brush marks, the trajectory of which move across, support, and echo his traverse through topographical terrains, a symbiotic connection to the earth and soil. Harmony is balanced through a lyrical, poetic, and abstract language of semiotics. Signs and signifiers juxtapose on a flat/ two-dimensional surface.
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Variety in scale is important. Painting on a large support enthuses him, as it frees up gesture and can be more playful. Experimentation and play are vital. Benbow builds up layers from an initial wash (thinned down acrylic) to create a background for painting into. A variety of sizes of brushes helps Benbow to create gestural marks and compositional frameworks. Working in acrylic has become his main medium. Experimenting with the viscosity of the paint, layering colour, playing with the opacity and translucency of the paint, and choosing pigments, and tonal values is a natural form of expression and Benbow's primary visual language.
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Benbow's research practice commences by the simple act of walking. He stakes out his territory. He is a lyrical loiterer. Benbow's inspiration springs from the absorption of the landscape/ cityscape through his senses – touch, seeing, hearing, and feeling, in a spiritual sense: for our connection to the land is deeper than purely physical, the memories we gather vibrate and reverberate within our hearts and minds remaining an echo of pilgrimage. Benbow will often record his walks through research methods such as photography, sketching & drawing, video, note-taking and writing poetical prose. This rich source of research is retrospectively studied and the material is then translated into often large acrylic paintings. Conveying his message via methodology and through research interests into the art form of this painting practice is his task.
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The power of abstraction is his tool in configuring his message. Benbow is interested in psychogeography. The world around him is interpreted through thought, philosophy, and as an idea. Paradoxically, the world appears in a concrete existence; however, He does not attempt to represent external reality but seeks to portray the world through shapes, colours, and tonal values. Rural/ suburban/urban districts, the edgelands, where the city meets the countryside, are his primary subjects.
Benbow's work is historically inspired by artists including Victor Pasmore, Ivon Hitchen, Albert Irvin, Peter Lanyon, and Adrian Berg. As well as being inspired by contemporary artists such as Shara Hughes’ forms and colour layers and Julie Mehretu’s mark making, layering, and political and social influences in her work. By studying these artists techniques and manner of observing and painting the landscape, Benbow can contextualise his work through the observations of their compositions, use of colour, and brushmarks. The post-impressionists and Vincent Van Gogh have always been one of Benbow's founding inspirations, as has the colourist-inspired Yorkshire landscapes of David Hockney, the landscapes of West Lancashire and Wigan Borough, his childhood village of Appley Bridge (The Little Apple) and the influence of the esteemed Theodore Major and other local artists.
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In common with Hockney and Van Gogh in their stays in Normandy and Arles respectively, (and before his big move to New York) Benbow walked and explored his local vicinity, like they before him, and he was inspired by what was on his doorstep. Wandering alone, and taking in what he sees before him enables Benbow to connect with the architecture/nature in his environment. The latter confronting Benbow with aspects of cultural appropriation in referencing Aboriginal Art. Benbow captures inspiration, not just in the visual sense but also the spiritual connecting the people to the land and aspects of ancient cultures and practices such as ‘walkabout’ and ‘Dreamtime.’ Benbow has found that spending time in nature has been a rite of passage, like the young Aboriginals sent out into the outback and left to survive, in common with them he has harmonised with nature, the spirits of the trees, plants, and animals have entered his own dream-world and in-turn cleansed his own psyche and spirit.
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In the past, Benbow has referenced cartographic influences from paper maps to GPS. Using maps as a resource material enables him to create a framework for a composition. Benbow uses places where he has recently walked or visited in which his memories and experiences are fresh. He will often revisit these sites repeatedly. Benbow paints out the structure of the composition and then works into the composition over several sessions. Depending on the size of the surface the paintings can be rendered relatively quickly or take many hours or days to reach completion.
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Curriculum Vitae
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Education:
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September 2020 - September 2022: The University of Salford - MA Contemporary Fine Art - Distinction.
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September 2017 - July 2020: The University of Salford - BA Hons Fine Art - First-Class Honours.
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September 2016 - June 2017: Wigan & Leigh College - Art Foundation - Distinction.
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September 2005 - May 2006: Manchester College - NCFE Level 2: Performance Skills
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Exhibitions: Future/Present/Past - Arti
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2025 - Air pollution is not the solution
2025 - Slam - psychogeographic sliding doors
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2025 - Walk this way​​​
​2025 - The Art of Litter Picking
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2025 - Brooklyn Green Bridge
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2025 - Help others and myself - Dib, dib, dib. (potential idea).
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2025 - Chainsaw Masachre of James Pond - Sound Art.
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2025 - Toffee Apple - Apple bobbing - Taking place in November 2025.​
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2025 - Autumn Exhibition - Parboiled Jacket Spuds 4 T - Parbold Library (Lancashire County Council), Parbold, West Lancashire. Taking place in September 2025.​
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2025 - Big Farmers Market Day - Cart and horse to local market, haulage to regional areas, trains nationally, ferries internationally - SNAIL on a plain.
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2025 - You Are My Sunshine - luck after the blues.
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2025 - Feel the Force
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2025 - Confetti - a patch quilt of one square miles.
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2025 - Confession at Brambley Hedge
​2025 - The Land of Apples & Bridges (From A to B)- A happening in which canvases are transported by foot from the artists home to the gallery /Human Beans - The Village Art Gallery ( Wigan Council), Shevington Library, Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester. Taking place in May 2025.
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2025 - Spring Exhibition at Adlington - Adlington Library (Lancashire County Council), Adlington, Chorley, Lancashire.
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2024 - Harvest Festival Exhibition - group exhibition for attendees of the watercolour class which runs on a Wednesday at Upholland Community Hub, St Thomas the Martyr, Upholland, West Lancashire.
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2024 - Asylum - Asylum, Standish, Wigan, Greater Manchester - A selection of prints and cyanotypes displayed on the wall of the fabulous Asylum Bar.​
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2024 - Architecture of Wigan: Wigan Library (Wigan Council), Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2024 - Landmarks of Skem: Skelmersdale Library (Lancashire County Council) - Skelmersdale, West Lancashire.
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2023 - Garden Exhibition (Private View Only) - Appley Bridge, Wigan, West Lancashire.
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2023 - We Don't Need Another Image: Parbold Library (Lancashire County Council) - Parbold, Wigan, West Lancashire.
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2023 - Douglas Valley Takeover - A series of visual art Open Calls/ Sculpture Interventions/ Happenings along the route of the Douglas Valley. The Douglas Valley runs from Crooke in Wigan to Parbold in West Lancashire.
2023 - A Right Royal Ramble: A walk and 'happening' in Lancashire - featuring a borrowed knitted King Charles.
2023 - Chalk Board Drawing (Collaboration) - Bluedot Festival, Cheshire.
2023 - Land Escape: (Solo Show) -Paintings on Paper - Ormskirk Library (Lancashire County Council) - Orrmskirk, West Lancashire.
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2023 - May The Fourth Be With You: (Solo Show) - A selection of recent watercolour paintings on paper. Parbold Library (Lancashire County Council) - Parbold, West Lancashire.
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2023 - They Are Amongst Us: A Retrospective (Solo Show) - The Village Art Gallery (Wigan Council) - Shevington Library, Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2022 - Cultivate Presents - MIXTAPE NO.1 - A group show - www.organthing.com - Online.
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2022 - Impact: MA Art & Design Degree Show - I refused to take part because of the limited time slot, bias, and in protest about not having a degree show at BA Level.
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2022 - https://dwelltimepress.wordpress.com/ - Online.
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2022 - Road Markings - In partnership with Community Speed Watch & Lancashire County Council.
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2022 - carbon-borders-voices.com/richard-benbow - Online.
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2021 - Representation by: Happenstance Art Gallery - Instagram: @happenstanceartgallery.
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2021 - www.instagram.com/interim_arts - Online.
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2021 - Arcadia - Virtual Exhibition - https://www.curatingfutures.com - Online.
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2021 - The Stable Gallery - www.instagram.com/thestable_gallery - Online.
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2021 - Alone, Together - Virtual Exhibition - https://alonetogetherve.wixsite.com/exhibition?utm_campaign= - Online.
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2021 - Restriction Exhibition - Correspondence Collective/ Clayhill Arts (Somerset) -
www.clayhillarts.co.uk/restriction-exhibition - Online.
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2021 - VCZ Gallery - www.instagram.com/vczgallery - Online.
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2021 - Abstract Muse in Togetherness of Diversity - https://musebuz.com/project/abstract-muse-in-togetherness-of-divesity/ - Online.
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2021 - The Virtual Art Fair ( 4th Edition) - https://www.thevirtualartfair.co.uk/artists - Online
2021 - https://www.happenstance.io/richard-benbow - Online.
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2020 - 2023 - Exhibition in the Garden - Appley Bridge, Wigan, England.
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2020 - Exhibition in the Window - Appley Bridge, Wigan, England.
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2020 - 2020 Exhibition - www.instagram.com/supportingarts - Online.
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2020 - CBM Galleries - www.instagram.com/acardboardmonkey - Online.
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2020 - Online Festive Makers Market - https://blogs.salford.ac.uk/windows-of-opportunity/2020/12/04/richard-benbow-paintings/ - Online.
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2020 - www.instagram.com/chromazone_mag - Online.
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2020 - www.instagram.com/doityourway_art - Online.
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2020 - www.instagram.com/thesocialdistanceartproject - Online.
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2020 - CuratorSpace and The State Of The Arts online art fair - www.thestateofthearts.co.uk/curatorspace-exhibition/ - Online.
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2020 - Happenstance IO - Landscape/Abstract Exhibitions - https://www.happenstance.io/artists - Online.
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2020 - We have Landed - The Village Gallery (Wigan Council), Shevington Library, Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2020 - The Virtual Art Fair - www.thevirtualartfair.co.uk - Online.
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2020 - Gradcurate - gradcurate.co.uk/ - www.instagram.com/gradcurate - Online.
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2020 - Sydenham Virtual Arts Trail - https://sydenhamarts.co.uk/artist/richard-james-benbow/ - Online.
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2020 - Salford University Art Degree Show Class of 2020 - Cancelled due to Covid 19 Pandemic. We were promised a physicical show of some kind at a later date but this never materialised.
2020 - University of Salford - https://blogs.salford.ac.uk/windows-of-opportunity/student-work/fine-art/richard-benbow/ - Online.
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2020 - Artsy Exhibit (with SHIM Art Network) artsy.net/artist/richard-benbow - Online.
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2020 - Social Distance Abstract - www.instagram.com/socialdistanceabstract - Online.
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2020 - 34GB Exhibition - https://www.34gbexhibition.co.uk/ - Online.
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2020 - Isolation Inspirations - https://westartcollective.com/exhibitions West Art Collective - Online.
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2020 - The Social Distance Art Project - https://www.thesocialdistanceartproject.co.uk/gallery1 - Online.
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2020 - The Artistry of Japan - Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, Manchester.
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2019 - Sculpture Procession/Intervention/Happening/Exhibition - Peel Park, Salford, Manchester.
2019 - Chalk Board Exhibition - The Bridge Inn, Appley Bridge, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2019 - 20:20 Print Exchange - Hotbed Press & Tour. National/International.
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2019 - Acquired Exhibition - Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, Manchester.
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2019 - The Howarth Life Drawing Series Exhibition - The Old Fire Station, Salford, Manchester.
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2018 - The Salford Open - Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, Manchester.
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2018 - Sculpture installation (Web Of Lies) + framed prints of mixed media artwork, Fairy Glen, Appley Bridge, Wigan, England.
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2018 - One (Level 4 Exhibition) - Paradise Works Exhibition, Salford, Manchester.
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2018 - The Howarth Life Drawing Series Exhibition - The Old Fire Station, Salford, Manchester.
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2018 - Group Exhibition - Caffe Dolce, Southport, Merseyside.
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2018 - 20:20 Print Exchange - Hotbed Press & Tour, National/International.
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2017 - 2018 - photographer/ Volunteer & Performance artist - MC Rat - The Old Courts, Wigan.
2017 - Open Studios Exhibition - Cross Street Arts, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2017 - Group Exhibition - Caffe Dolce , Southport, Merseyside.
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2017 - 20:20 Print Exchange - Hotbed Press & Tour. International.
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2017 - Lancashire Open Exhibition- Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, West Lancashire - Commended.
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2017 - Solo Exhibition - The Village Gallery (Wigan Council), Shevington, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2017 - Distant Shores - The Waterfront Arts Project, Southport, Merseyside.
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2017 - Foundation Art Show - Wigan & Leigh College, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2017 - Invisible Man (sculpture of homeless man made from Sellotape) - photography/ sculpture installation + happening in Wigan Town Centre, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2017 - Mind & Movement - The Waterfront Arts Project, Southport, Merseyside.
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2017 - Beyond the Obvious - The Waterfront Arts Project, Southport, Merseyside.
2016 - The Unfinished Truth - The Waterfront Arts Project, Southport, Merseyside.
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2016 - Macmillan Pop-up-Shop - Southport, Merseyside.
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2016 - Elements - The Waterfront Arts Project, Southport, Merseyside.
2015 - Macmillan Pop-up-Shop - Southport, Merseyside.
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2014 - Chess in the Park (a one day festival) - Exhibition & happening - Rivington terraced gardens, Rivington, Nr Winter Hill, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
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2014 - The Recovery Awards - UCLAN, Preston.
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2014 - Story Time Festival II - Antwerp Mansion, Manchester.
2013 - Story Time Festival - Antwerp Mansion, Manchester.
2012 -Tune In & Be Heard - Antwerp Mansion, Manchester.
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2012 - Turnpike Open Exhibition - Leigh, Greater Manchester.
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2012 - Exhibited with Pye Studios, Hindley, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2009 - Jalaba - walking artistry through the Medina of Tangier in which a foreign traveller went native and practiced yoga in a local square in the city.
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2007 - 2013 - Disciple of Father Nugent - Volunteer/ Bank/ Contract - The art of drinking tea and working in the wider community.
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2007 - Has Bean - Dancer for The Lost City Ramblers -
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2005 - 2007 - Lyricist/ Singer/ dancer/ frontman for Richard & The Replicants
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2001 - 2006 - Various roles exploring the world
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2000 - Security - Wigan Enterprise Park (Joy Mining) - Walking artistry and drawing/painting from a portacabin
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2000 - High Moor - Chef Artistry - Life is Service.
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1999/ 2000 - All Cooped Up - The Zoo - A long story - Part 1 & Part 2.
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1999 - Railway Road, Leigh (various locations) - I am Liam - flirtation with the media
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1994 - 1996 - "I am the reincarnation of Kurt Cobain" Performance Art piece - Winstanley College and other venues.
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1994 - GCSE Art Exhibition, The Tribes of the Amazon - The Deanery CE High School, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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1993 - 1994 - Lyricist/ Frontman/ Singer - The Rats of Joy
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1989 - 1994 - Performance artist - Hamster Man from Hamsterdam.
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Residencies:
2020 - 2025 - Fairy Glen - Forest Cleaner & Walking/ Litter artist
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2023 - Bluedot Festival (unofficial).
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2023 - Buttermere, The Lake District.
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2023 - Wasdale, The Lake District.
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2022 - Bluedot Festival (unofficial).
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2022 - Borrowdale, The Lake District.
2020 - 2023 - Douglas Valley, Wigan, Lancashire.
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2021 - Chapel Stile, The Lake District.
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2021 - Wigan Art Spaces, Wigan, Greater Manchester - Performance Artist/ Visual Artist (Drachir Wobneb).
2021 - Anglesey, Wales.
2020 - Arnside, Lancashire, England.
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2020 - Lanzarote - Spain.
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2019 - Venice, Italy.
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2019 - Colne, England.
2019 - Amsterdam, Holland.
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2019 - The Merz Barn, Ambleside, Cumbria, England.
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2019 - The Whitaker, Rawtenstall, East Lancashire, England.
2019 - Lanzarote, Spain.
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2018 - Florence, Italy.
2018 - Colne, England.
2018 - Fairy Glen, Appley Bridge, Wigan, Lancashire, England.
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2018 - Berlin, Germany.
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2018 - Barcelona, Spain.
2018 - Northumberland, England.
2018 - The Old Courts, Wigan, Greater Manchester - Appearing as MC Rat alongside the band Hans Shenans.
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2017 - Teesside, England.
2017 - Malaga, Spain.
2016 - Northumberland, England.
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2016 - Devon, England.
2015 - Cornwall, England.
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2014/15 - Outsider Artist Inside, Liverpool, Warrington, Blackpool - England.
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2014 - Chess in the Park - Rivington Terraced Gardens, Bolton, England.
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2013 - Liverpool, Merseyside.
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2013/2014 - The Great Unfinished, Antwerp Mansion, Manchester, England.
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2012 - 2018 - Instagram/Facebook -Visual & Performance Artist (Ricardo Van Cough) online - no longer available.
2011 - Crete, Greece.
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2005/6 - Pagefield Campus, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
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2005/7 - Manchester college/ Manchester & Wigan Venues - Performance Artist/Front man in Richard & The Replicants.
2003 - Colwyn Bay/ Llandudno, Wales.
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2000 - Lead artist on Inspiral Sculpture, Galloway Arts Council, Galloway Forest, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
1997 - Coops Foyer/ Pagefield Campus, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
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1997 - John Rigby College, Gathurst, England.
1994 - 1996 - Artist in the woods - Goldfish Bowl/Winstanley College & surrounding area, Lancashire, England.
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1993/1994 - The Deanery, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England - Performance Artist/ Frontman in The Rats of Joy/ Supernaught.
Awards:
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2018 - Howarth Life Drawing Prize - 1st Prize.
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2017 - Lancashire Open Exhibition - Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk – commended.
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2016, 2017, 2018 - Parbold Village Show - 1st Prize & The May Blake Cup.
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Published Work:
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2023 - Stat Magazine - linktr.ee/statzine In print & Online.
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2023 - #8 Emotions - Drawn Poorly Zine https://drawnpoorly.wordpress.com
2022 - https://dwelltimepress.wordpress.com/ - 19th Edition.
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2020 - Herons Wharf - The Language of Lockdown - The Old Courts, Wigan.
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2020 - Living Artists Magazine - Issue 1 - Religion & Spirituality https://www.livingartistsmag.com/zines
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2020 - Lockdown Landscapes - #6 Nature - Drawn Poorly Zine https://drawnpoorlyzine.bigcartel.com/
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2020 - Peel Park (painting) - Penny Thoughts, zine, Manchester.
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2019 - A Reflection on Acquired: A century of collecting https://artcollection.salford.ac.uk/author/jen/page/5/
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Work Experience:
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2019 - Bisdaq, Wigan Borough: Freelance Photographer.
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2018 - The Angel Centre, Salford: Art Workshop Facilitator.
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2018 - The Old Courts, Wigan: Art Workshop Facilitator.
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Volunteer Work:
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2025 - Lecture/Talk/ Q&A/ Workshopshop Facilatation (lancashire Library Service)
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​2023 - Art Workshop facilitator (Lancashire Library Services)
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2023 - Art Workshop Facilitator (Wigan Library Services).
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2023 - esea contemporary, Manchester.
2021 - The Turnpike Gallery, Leigh.
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2021 - Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool.
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2017 - Fire Garden project with Walk the Plank - Peel Park, Salford.
2016 - 2018 - Volunteer general assistant/ Invigilator/ photographer - The Old Courts, Wigan.
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2013/ 2014 - Art Workshops - Antwerp Mansion.
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