Richard Tratt
Richard is a painter and naturalist with a lifelong fascination for the British landscape and its wildlife. Growing up with a deep curiosity for the natural world, I have spent my life observing, sketching, and painting the beauty of the countryside — especially the New Forest, which continues to inspire me daily.
Richard is a painter and naturalist with a lifelong fascination for the British landscape and its wildlife. Growing up with a deep curiosity for the natural world, I have spent my life observing, sketching, and painting the beauty of the countryside — especially the New Forest, which continues to inspire me daily.
Professional Memberships
As a result of Richard’s early passion for natural history, he was elected as a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) in 1981 and the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) in 1986. Over the years, he’s exhibited widely across the UK, including with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, and has been fortunate to receive national recognition – including First Prize in the “Art in Nature” competition (1996).
Inspiration
The New Forest is a naturalist’s paradise — a place of woodland, heathland, and open skies. It offers an endless variety of subjects, from intricate close studies to vast panoramic scenes. I’m especially drawn to the northern valleys and ridges, with their warm tones of heather and bracken, and the ever-present ponies that give the Forest such unique character.
Artistic Style
Richard paints mainly in oils on canvas, combining fine detail with a strong sense of atmosphere and composition. My aim is to capture not only the beauty of a scene but also the feeling of being there — the light, the texture, and the quiet movement of life within the landscape.
Reflection
Through his paintings, Richard hopes to share his appreciation for the quiet drama and timeless beauty of the natural world, from the sweep of heathland under an open sky to the smallest details of plants and wildlife that make each landscape unique.
Exhibitions
Richard’s paintings are regularly shown in the annual SWLA and SBA exhibitions in London, and can also be seen at galleries and events throughout the country. He’s honoured to have work on permanent display at the International Centre for Wildlife Art in Gloucester. Living in Fordingbridge allows me to stay closely connected to the northern reaches of the New Forest, which remain at the heart of my inspiration.
Contact Richard
You can find Richard’s art, prints and paintings in the following locations:
New Forest Gallery & Collectables Lyndhurst
Also on his website here
