From his teens when struggling with his glasses salting up on Chesil Beach, to his elderly days of sitting in the car at Lepe Beach, Richard was always excited by dramatic weather. Sometimes, a sudden gust of wind can be symbolic of a spiritual event.
At this period of his life he would be painting on the spot and certainly this watercolour is full of the drama of the moment. I love the lively treatment of the bit of blue sky at the top. [PB]
He would have watched this from his car parked on Lepe beach. He and Mavis would take a thermos and honey sandwiches to watch people and the weather on the water.
This looks a bit like West Road in Dibden Purlieu where Richard lived, but it isn’t quite exact. He often changed things around to fit in with his idea. This little picture has captured the feel of freshly fallen snow before it gets slushy.