Official War Artist
Richard sold his first wartime paintings to the 'Ministry of Information' on a one by one basis but during 1940 he was appointed an official war artist by the War Artists' Advisory Committee (WAAC). From that point he took a salary from, was commissioned by and delivered the paintings to the Admiralty.
Almost all of these pictures are in public collections, mainly gifted to them by the WAAC towards the end of the war. Even though most were official commissions it is clear that his own particular vision informs these pictures, his pacifism never far away under the surface. He fairly successfully achieved his intention to avoid tipping into pure propaganda and imbuing them with a strong feeling for humanity in times of conflict instead.
Studies for the Blitz on Portsmouth (1942)
pencil on paper - 9.5h x 14w (cm)
Warship (1942)
pencil on paper - 21.6h x 35.6w (cm)
Arrival of HMS Resolution (1942)
pencil on paper - 21.9h x 35.5w (cm)
HMS Resolution, Portsmouth (1942)
pencil on paper - 20.3h x 35.6w (cm)
Warship (1942)
pencil on paper - 21.6h x 35.6w (cm)
The Raid on the Bruneval Radio Location Station, 27-28 February 1942 (1942)
oil on canvas - 76.2h x 101.9w (cm)
Portsmouth (1942)
pencil on paper - 21.5h x 35.5w (cm)
Portsmouth (1942)
pencil on paper - 21h x 35.5w (cm)
Off Portsmouth (1942)
watercolour on paper - 21h x 35w (cm)
The Docks (1942)
pencil on paper - 21.6h x 35.6w (cm)
Naval Light Forces Going into Action (1942)
oil on canvas - 33h x 76w (cm)
Trawler Against Heinkel (1941)
oil on ? - 63.5h x 76.2w (cm)
Destroyer and Minesweeper (1941)
oil on ? - 35.6h x 60.7w (cm)
A Ship's Boat at Sea (1941)
oil on canvas - 35.6h x 62.2w (cm)
Raid on Vaagso, Norway, 26 - 27 December 1941 (1941)
oil on canvas - 76.2h x 127w (cm)
Portland Bill, 1940 (1941)
oil on canvas laid on board - 31h x 48w (cm)
Dunkirk Beaches, May 1940 (1941)
oil on canvas - 101.8h x 152.5w (cm)
Rescue of the Only Survivor of a Torpedoed Merchant Ship (1941)
oil on canvas - 76.2h x 127w (cm)
Attack on a Convoy Seen from the Air (1941)
oil on canvas - 76h x 101.4w (cm)
A Motor Boat of the British Power Boat Company, Hythe (1941)
oil on canvas - 68.5h x 81.5w (cm)