Overview

I start with no preconceived concept, making a series of random marks, roughly applied in raw umber to the canvas. While considering these chance marks, a direction for composition becomes apparent and colours suggest themselves. Following these guidelines, and using only palette knives, I work over the surface until the composition feels complete.

- Richard Nott

 

Training as a fashion designer at Kingston University, Nott began his career as a design assistant to Valentino in Rome, before returning to the UK to work as an independent designer. He went on to co-found the cult fashion company Workers for Freedom, which was the recipient of the British Council Fashion Designer of the Year Award in 1990.

 

It was working in fashion that developed Nott's reverence for texture, shape and pattern, which has informed much of his work. His first exhibition was directly inspired by the clothing collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Kensington Palace Court Collection in London, as well as exhibitions in the Museé des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and the royal kaftans held in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

 

Since then, his work has been shown around London, including at the Mall Galleries and Harrods. Over this time, his paintings have taken a more abstracted path. In a muted palette, with soft colours marbled in layers and metallic elements, as well as a strong presence of pattern, his recent works still retain the character of a long career in fashion.

 
 
Works
  • Richard Nott, Aviary, 2025
    Aviary, 2025
  • Richard Nott, Whispered Song, 2025
    Whispered Song, 2025
  • sixteen illustrations of different flowers arranged in rows of four. by artist Richard Nott.
    Korean Garden, 2024
  • Multiple rows characters that could be from a forgotten language by artist Richard Nott.
    Evoking a Message From a Long Time Ago, 2024
  • Richard Nott, White Garden - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
    White Garden - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
  • Richard Nott, Black Garden - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
    Black Garden - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
  • Richard Nott, Homage To Jeanne Lanvin - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
    Homage To Jeanne Lanvin - Meditations On Repetition, 2024
  • Richard Nott, Prussian Blue / Duck Egg Blue, 2024
    Prussian Blue / Duck Egg Blue, 2024
  • Richard Nott, Richard Nott, 1 Bright Blue Mark Install shot, 2023
    Richard Nott, 1 Bright Blue Mark Install shot, 2023
  • Richard Nott, Floating Sunspots, 2024
    Floating Sunspots, 2024
  • Richard Nott bristish figurative artist abstract geometrical paintings natural floral vases and decorative shapes in oil on canvas
    Code I , 2023
  • Richard Nott, Workers for Freedom
    Workers for Freedom
  • Richard Nott, Meditations Primrose, 2023
    Meditations Primrose, 2023
  • Richard Nott, 19th C Cloisonne Vase with Game Birds, 2022
    19th C Cloisonne Vase with Game Birds, 2022
  • Richard Nott, 19th C Cloisonne Vase with Chrysanthemums , 2022
    19th C Cloisonne Vase with Chrysanthemums , 2022
  • Richard Nott bristish figurative artist abstract geometrical paintings natural floral vases and decorative shapes in oil on canvas
    17th C Peony Vase, 2022
  • Richard Nott, From an 18thC Japanese Tea Bowl with Crane, 2022
    From an 18thC Japanese Tea Bowl with Crane, 2022
  • Richard Nott, Interior shot , 2021
    Interior shot , 2021
  • Richard Nott, From a 17thC Japanese Tea Bowl with Kintsug, 2022
    From a 17thC Japanese Tea Bowl with Kintsug, 2022
  • Richard Nott, Meditations Black, 2024
    Meditations Black, 2024
  • Richard Nott, Richard Nott, 835 Small Golden Marks install shot , 2023
    Richard Nott, 835 Small Golden Marks install shot , 2023
  • Richard Nott, Stripe, 2024
    Stripe, 2024
Exhibitions
Press
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