Artist Statement

‘My practice is primarily concerned with (but not confined to) portraiture and the human figure, in particular paintings of my wife, family, friends and self-portraits. I paint direct, naturalistic portraits without exaggeration or idealisation so that when you encounter one of them, it is as if you have wandered into a space where that person just happens to be. As much as possible I work from direct observation as the physical presence of a sitter influences my handling and application of paint. I have always been drawn to painting the familiar and indeed the familial as I believe that painting people I know enables me to make portraits that resonate with a sense of that personal connection. At its core, my practice is an ongoing visual autobiography and a view of my life as an artist living and working in the north of England’.

Richard Kitson is a figurative artist based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Kitson has exhibited in the UK and internationally and was a participant in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2018. Kitson’s work has been featured in selected group exhibitions including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize, Figurative Art Now and the Cork Street Open. His work hangs in various public and private collections.