THEME

Figures on a Beach

Richard loved to juxtapose the formality of the three horizontals of sky, sea and shore with the ever-changing human form and the patterns that they make. He also found humour, pathos or spiritual symbolism in the small narratives that emerged.

"The idea of figures on beaches is undoubtedly one of his favourite themes . . . physical types tend to be monumental and pale - sometimes almost ghostly; a coincidence which reinforces the marginal surrealism that occasionally tinges his vision."
Master of Poetic Narrative, 'The Scotsman', May 1977, author: Edward Cage

Beach Scene, Isle of Wight (1965)

Beach Scene, Isle of Wight (1965)

From the turbulent 60s a turbulent picture! the figures seem to be crawling out of the sea or at least a bit too close for comfort to the thrashing waves. I hope one day to see this in colour. [PB]

Anglers, Lepe (1982)

Anglers, Lepe (1982)

A beautiful little picture with the feeling of hazy light coming off the surface. The details are suggested with the merest flick of the brush.

So That Is the Island (1987)

So That Is the Island (1987)

The rather attenuated figures are poised on the beach and the surface of the sea vibrates all round them. Mavis must have come into the studio with a cup of tea and given the picture its memorable name.

354 works in this theme:

Fishing at Whitby

Fishing at Whitby (c1923)

Oil on canvas board

Mother and Children, Day at the Beach

Mother and Children, Day at the Beach (1926)

Oil on board

Fantazia

Fantazia (1927)

Pencil on paper

Clowns by the Sea

Clowns by the Sea (c1929)

Pencil on paper

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (1930)

Oil on canvas

Father and Young Daughter on Beach

Father and Young Daughter on Beach (1930s)
Wyke Regis

Wyke Regis (1932)

Watercolour on paper

Winter Seascape

Winter Seascape (1933)

Oil on canvas

Sunbathing on the Jetty, Penzance

Sunbathing on the Jetty, Penzance (1939)

Oil on canvas

Dunkirk 1940

Dunkirk 1940 (c1940)

Oil on board

Dunkirk Beach, 1940

Dunkirk Beach, 1940 (1940)

Oil on board

Dunkirk Beaches

Dunkirk Beaches (1940)

Oil on cardboard

Robin Hood's Bay in Wartime

Robin Hood's Bay in Wartime (1940)

Oil on canvas

Withdrawal from Dunkirk, June 1940

Withdrawal from Dunkirk, June 1940 (1940)

Oil on canvas

Dunkirk Beaches, May 1940

Dunkirk Beaches, May 1940 (1941)

Oil on canvas

The Raid on the Bruneval Radio Location Station, 27-28 February 1942

The Raid on the Bruneval Radio Location Station, 27-28 February 1942 (1942)

Oil on canvas

D-Day, Reconstruction - Beach Landing

D-Day, Reconstruction - Beach Landing (1944)

Oil on panel

House by the Beach

House by the Beach (c1945)

Oil on panel

Dancing Men

Dancing Men (1948)

Oil on canvas

La Fête des Saintes Maries de la Mer

La Fête des Saintes Maries de la Mer (1948)

Oil on canvas

The Return

The Return (1948)

Oil on canvas

Strange Nativity

Strange Nativity (1948)
Marine Harvest

Marine Harvest (1949)

Oil on canvas

Beach Scene

Beach Scene (1951)

Oil on canvas

The Shell Gatherer

The Shell Gatherer (1951)

Oil on board

Sails and Crucifix

Sails and Crucifix (1951)

Oil on ?

Harbour Entrance

Harbour Entrance (1952)

Oil on board

The Bay

The Bay (1952)
Coast Scene with Rainbow

Coast Scene with Rainbow (1952-53)

Oil on canvas

Mavis and Philippa, Lepe, early morning

Mavis and Philippa, Lepe, early morning (1962)

Oil on thin board