Richard has always been interested in form and colour, and cites as an influence the work of Frank Auerback in his use of vibrant colour and exploratory and intuitive techniques. Richard's landscapes are full of colour and movement as he attempts to capture the power and beauty of land, sea and sky. All his works are painted out in the field, either oil on canvas or Sinnelier and Caran d'Ache oil pastels on paper.
Richard Harbord was born in Rugby in 1966, his family moved to Harpenden in 1976. He went to Sir John Lawes school where his inspirational art teacher was John Miles. Richard went on to study at St Albans College of Art in 1986 (see retrospective), however his career took a change of direction following a decision to study Environmental Biology at Greenwich University. After his degree he worked as a Curator at the Natural History Museum for 12 years and studied for his masters in Museum Studies at University College London. In 2003 he returned to Hertfordshire with his wife Jenny to become an artist and look after his baby son Laurence, and since 2006 his baby daughter Amy.
In 2008 he moved with his family to Cornwall to take up the challenge of working as a member of the vibrant group of artists creating works that reflect the beauty of the Roseland peninsula. Richard has now trained as a Secondary Mathematics Teacher and has now begun working part time as a teacher so that he can renew his artistic intentions in 2015.
One man show: Portraits by Richard Harbord at the Cafe at the Abbey, Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban, St Albans: 25 January to 28 March 2008.
Competitive Judging: LUTON ART 2007, Luton Museum and Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton: 28 April - 10 June 2007
Competitive Judging: OPEN EXHIBITION 2006, Margaret Harvey Gallery, Herftordshire University, Hatfield Road, St Albans: 8-21 December 2006.
One man show: Chapterhouse (Abbey Refectory), Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban, St Albans: 27 January to 31 March 2006.
Competitive Judging: LUTON ART 2005, Luton Museum and Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton: 10 December 2005 - 22 January 2006
Five Man Show: Melanie Burnell, David Goller, Richard Harbord, Neil Sharp and Charles Westgarth; an exhibition of painting and sculpture OS2005/42 (click on text to see flyer) At: A+K Wilson Gallery Ltd's Workshop, Unit 28, 17 Leyton Road, Harpenden AL5 2AA, 01582 760824, Rear of the Inn on the Green, 3-25 September 2005 Saturdays and Sundays only 11.00am - 4.30pm. Exhibition arranged as part of Hertfordshire Open Studios 2005 (click on text to download full brouchure of OS2005 in PDF).
One man show: Chapterhouse (Click on text to see flyer) (Abbey Refectory), Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban, St Albans: 28 January to 24 March 2005.
One man show: Pullens Dinning Room and Bar, Railton Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0JP, 8 November to 8 December 2004.
23 October 2016; Pictures now on display at The Square Gallery, St Mawes, Cornwall. To see the gallery and for contact details visit: The Square Gallery
9 September 2015; Set up new website beta on tumblr.com at tumblr
8 September 2015; Prices below now include a gallery commission and the pictures are professionally framed by The Original Art Shop in glass fronted ash box frames.
3 June 2015; After a break of nearly seven years, Richard Harbord returns to landscape painting, taking up the challenge of working as a member of the vibrant group of artists creating works that reflect the drama and beauty of the Roseland peninsula.
5 September 2008; Installation of paintings at Lambourn Grove.
31 March 2008; A new commission for 16 landscapes by Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust. The landscapes will form an installation as part of the continued efforts to "Build... a better environment for mental health care" at Lambourn Grove Assessment and Treatment Unit for Older People.
4 February 2008; Interview with David Person from Radio Verulam.
25 January to 28 March 2008; This year the Cafe at the Abbey will be hosting your first chance to see Portraits by Richard Harbord. Along with the portraits exhibition, there will be another chance to see Landscapes by Richard Harbord at the Cafe at the Abbey, Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban, St Albans.
28 April to 10 June 2007; Portraits by Richard Harbord were highly commended by the judges at LUTON ART 2007, a competitively judged exhibition of art from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, Luton Museum and Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. Judges comments were...
"Great texture... An intense study... a pleasure to see" and "A powerfull piece... The face has great expression and character"