Fizz, linocut
Born 1936
Elected Associate 1979, Fellow 1987
Died 31 May 2024
Richard Bawden was a much-loved printmaker, painter, designer and illustrator. In each of these aspects of his practice he reflected his ability to capture atmosphere, oddity, texture, and pattern with his fine draughtsmanship and sense of expression.
Richard was born in 1936, in Braintree, Essex. He was son of the renowned artist Edward Bawden, who taught Richard how to cut lino. Richard attended Chelsea and St Martin’s Schools of Art, and during his time of National Service he was able to attend Winchester School of Art. He then began studying graphic design at the Royal College of Art, before transferring to learn printmaking under Julian Trevelyan, Alistair Grant and Edwin Ladell where he first began etching.
As well as being a member of the RE, he also belonged to the Royal Watercolour Society, the Society of Designer-Craftsmen, New English Art Club and was a former chairman of the Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop in Sudbury.
Richard was commissioned to produce posters for London Underground, he also created murals for restaurants, book illustrations and editions of prints for Curwen and Editions Alecto.
He had over 40 one-man exhibitions and his work is in numerous private collections, and features in many public collections including that of the V&A and Tate.
Richard lived in Suffolk, and was inspired by the Suffolk Coast to paint and to create prints. His many works of domestic interiors and scenes from his garden, frequently featuring his cats, show a record of his life there, where he lived with his wife, potter, Hattie Bawden.