Bonfires | Flames | Smoke
A complex subject! Fire often signifies the spiritual and the flame of creativity for Richard, but conversely it represents destruction (War) and pollution (Industry) as well as joy and celebration with fireworks and candles, and even these can be fraught with a sense of danger.
The fires or plumes of smoke are often clearly visible in the paintings, but others are just specks of light or black smudges in the distance. You sometimes have to work quite hard to find them, but when you do, you realise that they are not just incidental.
The Guy (1958)
oil on canvas - 127h × 101.6w (cm)
This is an almost savage scene filled with strange characters. The woman at the front is holding a terrified cat on her shoulder. The bonfire has hardly got started but the sky beyond the wall is filled with fireworks and smoke.
Twelfth Night (1948)
oil on board with arched top - 30h × 30w (cm)
This was a ritual carried out one year by Richard’s daughter and an older cousin, though possibly not quite as dangerously as depicted. They move with a lovely stateliness aware of the mystery that glowing candles create.
Dunkirk 1940 (c1940)
oil on board - 26.6h × 35.5w (cm)
This fire represents no less than the destruction of a whole town. The men on the beach must have been terrified with nowhere to go to conceal themselves from being picked off from the air. The huge black pall of smoke emphasises the urgency of the situation.
Seascape (1991)
pencil on paper
Bay Watch (1989)
oil on board - 45h × 60w (cm)
The Black Dog (1989)
oil on board - 78h × 74w (cm)
Garden Figure (1989)
oil on board - 14.5h × 35.5w (cm)
The Bonfire (1989)
oil on board - 25.5h × 28w (cm)
The Rocket (1987)
oil on board - 28h × 60w (cm)
Winter Solent (1987)
oil on board - 38h × 61w (cm)
Greenham Common (1985)
oil on board - 41.8h × 53.5w (cm)
Man on Fire (1985)
oil on board - 32h × 37w (cm)
Burning Wreckage on the Beach (1985)
oil on board - 31h × 64w (cm)
Man and Dog on Beach (1985)
oil on board - 23h × 30.1w (cm)
The Burning Bush (1984)
oil on board - 80h × 121.5w (cm)
Stampede (1984)
pencil and wash on paper - 28h × 61w (cm)
In Memoriam: Nagasaki (c1984)
oil on board - 55.9h × 61w (cm)
Interior with Window (1983)
pencil on paper - 24h × 47w (cm)
The Last of the Guy (1983)
oil on board - 61h × 61w (cm)
The Goal Post (1982)
oil on board - 34.5h × 50w (cm)
The Tall Ships, Southampton (1982)
oil on board - 74h × 114w (cm)
The Cricket Match, Ilkley (c1982)
oil on board - 39h × 60w (cm)
Northern Hill Town (1981)
oil on board - 22.9h × 101.6w (cm)
Figures on the Moors (1981)
oil on board - 30.5h × 45.5w (cm)
The Monument (1981)
oil on board - 30h × 60w (cm)
Beach Carnival (1981)
oil on board - 61h × 91.5w (cm)
Mirage (1981)
oil on board - 13h × 49w (cm)
Barbeque and Fireworks (1980)
oil on board - 20.3h × 25.4w (cm)
Southampton Water (1979)
oil on board - 43h × 50w (cm)
Shipyard, Falmouth (1979)
oil on board - 13h × 27w (cm)
Figures on a Beach (1979)
oil on board - 56h × 81.5w (cm)
Harvesters (1978)
oil on board - 24h × 33w (cm)
The Burning Tree, Studley Royal (1977)
oil on board - 30.5h × 45.7w (cm)
Bottle on a Beach (1976)
oil on board - 51.5h × 76w (cm)
Candle on the Beach (1976)
oil on board - 16.2h × 20.3w (cm)
Nocturne (1975)
oil on board - 30.5h × 30.5w (cm)
Tanker off Cowes (1975)
pencil on paper on board - 18h × 20.5w (cm)
Mischief Night (1975)
oil on canvas - 78.8h × 122w (cm)
Mine Layer on Beaulieu River (1974)
oil on board - 23h × 40.6w (cm)
Eddystone Light (1974)
oil on board - 60h × 90.8w (cm)
Chesil Beach from Rodwell (1974)
oil on board - 40.6h × 61w (cm)
Southampton Water (1973)
oil on panel - 51h × 71w (cm)
Nocturnal Garden (1971)
oil on board - 31.5h × 74w (cm)
Thunder in the Solent (1969)
oil on board - 61.5h × 76w (cm)
Tanker in the Solent (1969)
oil on canvas - 25h × 35w (cm)
Steam Train (the last perhaps) and Aeroplane (1969)
oil on board - 46.5h × 61w (cm)
Hole in the Wall (1968)
oil on board - 27.9h × 61w (cm)
Wreck and Landslip, Yorkshire Coast (1968)
oil on canvas - 41h × 61w (cm)
Yachts off Cowes (1967)
oil on board - 20h × 66w (cm)
Sun Rising through Mist, Southampton Water (1967)
oil on canvas laid on board - 45.1h × 58.4w (cm)
Sir Francis Chichester’s Return Celebration at Buckler's Hard on 17th Sept 1967 (1967)
oil on board - 52h × 68w (cm)
Tanker on Fire (1965)
oil on canvas - 30.5h × 40.6w (cm)
Haworth, Yorkshire (1964)
oil on board - 27.94h × 35.56w (cm)
Lincolnshire Farm (1963)
oil on board - 75h × 126w (cm)
Bowden Hill (1963)
oil on canvas - 51h × 76w (cm)
Southampton Docks (c1963)
oil on oil paper - 13h × 17.7w (cm)
Dream Landscape (1960s)
ink on paper
The Messenger (1962)
oil on board - 94.5h × 125w (cm)
The Whitby Lights (1962)
oil on board - 35.2h × 58.1w (cm)
Chatsworth to Represent Sheffield at Play (1961)
oil on canvas - 304.8h × 426.7w (cm)
The Flooded Valley (1961)
oil on canvas - 51h × 61w (cm)
HMS Vanguard, 4th August 1960, Portsmouth (1961)
pen, brush, ink & pastel - 17.8h × 33.5w (cm)
A Refinery Scene (The Seven Sisters) (1960)
oil on board - 50h × 120w (cm)
Whitby, Study for a Mural in the Teaching Hospital, Sheffield (1960)
oil on board - 69h × 101w (cm)
Watermeadow (1960)
oil on board - 20.5h × 25.5w (cm)
The Lighthouse (1959)
oil on board - 39.5h × 50w (cm)
Cornwall (1958)
oil on board - 33h × 42w (cm)
Passing Train (1958)
oil on canvas - 41h × 51w (cm)
Yorkshire Cornfield (1957)
- 40.6h × 50.8w (cm)
Men of Straw (1957)
oil on panel - 50.8h × 101.6w (cm)
Southampton (1957)
oil on canvas - 41h × 51w (cm)
York Festival Triptych (1956)
oil on canvas - 130.8h × 196.2w (cm)
The Lighthouse (c1955)
oil on canvas - 40.7h × 50.8w (cm)
Queen of the Sea, 1911 (1954)
oil on canvas - 122h × 182.8w (cm)
Solent Fort (1954)
oil on canvas - 35.5h × 61w (cm)
The Mariner's Return (1953)
oil on canvas - 63.5h × 76w (cm)
Ships of All Nations Assembling off Spithead, 14 June 1953 for Coronation Review by the Queen, 15 June 1953 (1953)
oil on board - 21.5h × 120.8w (cm)
The Pleasures of Travel, 1951 (1952)
oil on canvas - 50.8h × 63.5w (cm)
The Mummers (1952)
oil on board - 88h × 92w (cm)
The Return (c1952)
- 30.5h × 50.8w (cm)
Hanging Stone (c1952)
oil on canvas - 64.5h × 77w (cm)
Sea-Piece and Lighthouse (1951)
oil on panel - 7h × 19w (cm)
Seascape with a Train (1950)
oil on canvas - 73.5h × 97.5w (cm)
Gordale Scar (c1950)
oil on canvas - 126h × 75w (cm)
The Guy (1948)
oil on canvas - 61h × 51w (cm)
Remembrance of Things Past (1947)
oil on canvas - 50.5h × 74.5w (cm)
King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight (1947)
oil on panel - 119h × 89.5w (cm)
In Debt to Caroline (c1946)
oil on canvas - 61h × 51w (cm)
Shipwreck (c1945)
- 22.9h × 30.5w (cm)
Preparations for D-Day (1944)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 127w (cm)
D-Day, Reconstruction - Beach Landing (1944)
oil on panel - 102h × 228.5w (cm)
D-Day, Reconstruction - Bombed Cathedral (1944)
oil on panel - 102h × 77w (cm)
Midget Submarine Attack on the 'Tirpitz', 22 September 1943 (1944)
oil on mahogany panel - 40.6h × 106.7w (cm)
Bombardment of the coast near Trapani (1943)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 127w (cm)
The Great Convoy to North Africa, November 1942 (1943)
oil on canvas - 76h × 127w (cm)
The Great Convoy to North Africa (1943)
oil on panel - 36.8h × 127w (cm)
Light Coastal Forces Blow Up An Enemy Merchantman (1943)
oil on canvas - 76h × 101.3w (cm)
The Landing at Dieppe, 19th August 1942 (March 1942)
oil on panel - 121.9h × 175.3w (cm)
A Destroyer Rescuing Survivors (1942)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 101.9w (cm)
Night Raid on Portsmouth Docks, 1941 (1942)
oil on canvas - 78.7h × 127w (cm)
HMS 'Revenge' Leaving Harbour (1942)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 127w (cm)
Raid on Vaagso, Norway, 26 - 27 December 1941 (1941)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 127w (cm)
Dunkirk Beaches, May 1940 (1941)
oil on canvas - 101.8h × 152.5w (cm)
Attack on a Convoy Seen from the Air (1941)
oil on canvas - 76h × 101.4w (cm)
Night Attack Over Southampton Water (1941)
oil on ? - 33h × 60.7w (cm)
A Destroyer Escort in Attack (1941)
oil on canvas - 50.5h × 101.5w (cm)
The Boats Were Machine-Gunned (1941)
oil on canvas - 76.6h × 101.6w (cm)
Robin Hood's Bay in Wartime (1940)
oil on canvas - 63.5h × 76.2w (cm)
Dunkirk Beaches (1940)
oil on cardboard - 22.8h × 45.7w (cm)
December, Work Suspended (1940)
oil on canvas - 101.6h × 127w (cm)
Barrage Balloons (1940)
oil on panel - 21.2h × 62.5w (cm)
Dunkirk Beach, 1940 (1940)
oil on board - 28h × 50.8w (cm)
Air Fight over Portland (1940)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 101.9w (cm)
Withdrawal from Dunkirk, June 1940 (1940)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 101.6w (cm)
Man With a Hawk (1939)
oil on canvas on paper or board - 31.5h × 27w (cm)
Antwerp (1939)
oil on canvas - 101.6h × 127w (cm)
Continental Port (1939)
oil on canvas - 101.5h × 127w (cm)
Dunkirk (1939)
oil on canvas - 51h × 61w (cm)
Clifford's Tower, York (1939)
oil on canvas - 51.75h × 61w (cm)
The Galilee (1938)
oil on canvas - 40.6h × 61w (cm)
Newlyn (1938)
oil on canvas - 61h × 91.5w (cm)
Boats at Lyme Regis (1937)
oil on canvas - 50.6h × 60.9w (cm)
R.M.S. Queen Mary, First Arrival at Southampton (1936)
oil on canvas - 50.8h × 101.6w (cm)
The White Ship, Weymouth (1935)
oil on canvas - 87h × 131w (cm)
Minesweeper off Portland (1935)
oil on board or panel - 30.5h × 45.7w (cm)
Portland Roads (1935)
oil on canvas - 63.5h × 76.6w (cm)
Fog Bank, Whitby (1934)
oil on canvas - 50.8h × 76.2w (cm)
West Country Harbour (1932)
oil on board - 40.6h × 61w (cm)
Round the Point (1931)
oil on canvas - 50.8h × 60.7w (cm)
A Yacht Being Towed into Harbour (1931)
oil on canvas - 50h × 65.5w (cm)
An Old Man with his Pipe (1928)
pencil on paper - 21.5h × 15.5w (cm)
Old Barge on the Thames (c1925)
oil on board - 22.8h × 33w (cm)
Tugboat (1921)
oil on canvas
Sinking Ship in Flames (1915)
watercolour on paper
Battleship and Submarine (1915)
watercolour on paper - 9h × 12.5w (cm)
Ship on Fire (1914)
watercolour on paper