Richard Sorrell

Biography

RICHARD SORRELL PRWS RBA NEAC

Richard at work in his studio

Richard Sorrell was born in 1948, the son of Alan Sorrell, the historical draughtsman and painter and Elizabeth Sorrell the watercolorist.

Richard studied at the RA Schools (Post Graduate Course) 1968-72, having also attended Walthamstow Art School and Kingston College of Art.

Richard was elected to the Royal Watercolour Society in 1975, and was Vice-President of that society 2002-05, and elected President in 2006. He is also an Executive Committee member of the New English Art Club and a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, by whom he was awarded the De Laslo Medal in 2002. He was a Governor of the Mall Galleries 2000-06.

Richard Sorrell’s work is held in the collections of the V&A Museum, Museum of London, the National Trust, Norwich City Council, Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea, Basildon Arts Trust and in private collections in Britain, Europe and US.

  • 2007 Founder and President of Royal Watercolour Society in East Anglia
  • 1969 – 72 Royal Academy Schools (RA Schools Postgraduate Certificate)
  • 1966 – 69 Kingston College of Art (Dip AD)
  • 1965 – 66 Walthamstow Art School

Honours

  • RA Schools Silver and Bronze Medals
  • 1975 Elected to the Royal Watercolour Society: elected VPRWS 2002
  • 1988 Elected to the Royal Society of British Artists
  • 1995 Elected to the New English Art Club
  • Appointed Governor of the Mall Galleries
  • 2006 Elected President of RWS

Exhibitions

  • Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions since 1971
  • Royal Watercolour Society since 1975 (featured artist 1993)
  • Royal Society of British Artists since 1986 (featured artist 1993)
  • New English Art Club since 1995
  • DLI Museum and Art Gallery, Durham 1975
  • Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea 1978
  • Hayward Gallery, Lutyens Exhibition 1980
  • Agnew’s 1981- 1993
  • Cadogan Gallery 1992
  • Lynn Strover Gallery Cambridge 1994/6
  • The Old Workshop Art Gallery, Norfolk 1996
  • Kentmere House Gallery, York 1996
  • Llewellyn Alexander Gallery since 1996
  • Manor House Gallery, Chipping Norton since 1997
  • Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum 1997 (with Edmund Fairfax-Lucy)
  • Langham Fine Art 1997/8/9
  • Thompson’s Gallery, Stow on the Wold
  • Woodgates Gallery, East Bergholt
  • Brian Sinfield Gallery
  • Bourne Gallery, Reigate 2000
  • Guildford Arts (Mill Gallery) 2002/3
  • Sheen Gallery 2002 - 2006
  • Alresford Gallery 2003
  • Alpha House Gallery, Sherbourne Dorset 2003, 2007
  • Galleries Sternberg, Chicago 2003, 2006

Public Collections

  • Victoria & Albert Museum: Aerial view of the Channel Tunnel Workings at Shakespeare Cliff, with supporting material and drawings
  • The National Trust: Aerial views of Blickling, Norfolk; Ickworth, Suffolk; Uppark, Sussex and paintings of Calke Abbey, Flatford Mill and Oakhurst Cottage, Surrey
  • The Faringdon Collection
  • Norwich City Council
  • Godalming Museum
  • Museum of London
  • Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea
  • St Nicholas Abbey, Barbados
  • Basildon Arts Trust

In 2001 Richard Sorrell presented a picture of her Centenary parade to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother