The Bonfire

This is a painting of my mother who loved bonfires. In the wilder parts of the garden it was a satisfying way of clearing the more pernicious weeds and the debris of dead twigs etc. But it was the inner life of the fire that was the thing. A heap of damp weeds would temporarily hide the flames and the smoke would pursue you wherever you stood. Eventually huge tongues of flame would burst forth with an exciting energy, reducing the bulk to a small amount of ash. Many of Richard's paintings included smoke or fire often in the far distance, often signifying a spiritual or otherworldly element.