Richard Bourne

Richard Bourne is an English born painter originally from the Sussex/Surrey/London region who has been living predominantly in Cologne, Germany for the last ten years. Prior to this, Richard lived in both Malta and Gozo for a combined ten years period. 

He produced some innovative concepts within his early work in the first decade of the new Millennium that includes random experimental work. In particular, using mathematical equations and random strategy paintings. In addition, he created art within other ground breaking areas such as food on canvas and acrylic on sponge although he primarily works with acrylic on canvas.

After initially producing smaller sized canvases, Bourne was encouraged to paint much larger canvases, principally in an abstract style. The largest of these ‘The Rhythm Divine’ was slightly over 4 metres in length and was first exhibited to the public in 2015 at the Government Exhibition Halls in Victoria. This exhibition was opened by the President of Gozo and curated by Simon Sultana Harkins.

In 2009 Richard won the prestigious International Art Biennale Award for his 2.25 metre square painting ‘Live Life Connections’. This was a truly innovative idea and incorporated 68 people from Malta onto a 2.25 metre square canvas with each person randomly choosing their own square and colour from two respective pots which was then incorporated onto the canvas. The work also included three elements of Maltese cultural emblems incorporated into the painting to showcase the broad colours of Malta as a whole and the piece is a tribute to the islands. This canvas took 6 months to complete and was the third in a line of random concepts Richard was engaged within, that were first shown at his successful Portomaso Exhibition in 2010.

Richard worked on major art pieces with the co-operation of the famous Swiss music legends Yello, UK music chart star Karel Fialka and Ira Losco. British music band Depeche Mode have been used as a source of inspiration for painting pieces within his ‘Canvas Music’ concept.

As a respected professional songwriter, Richard also found a pioneering way of writing songs from the 'Canvas Music' paintings and later of producing remixes too. The first two released songs using this idea were the songs 'Obsession' and 'I Rode That Tide With The Starry-Eyed' from the Racecar/Karel Fialka album 'Peace v War' in 2016 on PVW Records, although songs were written using this method by Bourne prior to this release.

Above: Bourne’s Canvas Music painting for ‘The Rhythm Divine’ as performed by Yello, Shirley Bassey and Billy Mackenzie. The length of the painting is over 4 metres wide and was so long it failed to fit into the office of the band Yello in Zurich, Switzerland.

Unfortunately, on moving to Germany in January 2016 where his son Leonardo was born the previous October, Richard had a stroke within two months of locating to the Cologne area.

This signalled an immediate stop on Bourne’s art career and he was unable to paint for a number of years. While Richard learnt to paint again, he discovered WPAP, the cubist inspired style of geometric pop art. He digitally produced dozens of these portraits as a music and sport VA concept, via computer to keep himself creatively occupied.

In 2019 and able to paint once more, Bourne produced a number of ‘Canvas Music’ commissions that were purchased by music artists such as Muse, OMD, Lucinda Sieger and a large commission for the Mountview Recording Studio in Hertfordshire in England, of The Beatles song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’

Bourne’s paintings and art have been used as the front covers on various books including: ‘Depeche Mode: Violator - The Ultimate A&R Guide,’ in 2018. The Neil McAffer tennis self help book ‘Deep Down Inside’ 2024 and the recent 'Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department Companion Book’.

Right: Bourne’s WPAP creations graced the front cover of the book ‘Deep Down Inside’ by respected tennis coach and former New Zealand tennis champion Neil McAffer in 2024.

During 2021, following bursitis Richard’s frustration at not being able to paint with his ‘left hand’ was evidently dominant. Especially, in a series of ‘right handed’ paintings all sized 115 cm x 75 cm titled ‘The Paradise Of Despair.’ Unsurprisingly, Bourne was generally unhappy on not being able to offer the quality of his previous concepts using his unnatural hand. However, he successfully attempts to evoke the idea of a black and white photo on a canvas in the final piece ‘Cave Dweller.’ There is a possibility of taking this type of concept forward based on ‘Cave Dweller,’ at some juncture, in the future.

In 2023, Bourne originated a new concept titled ‘Secondary Drowning’ that he had conceived and researched thoroughly in 2021 and 2022. ‘Secondary Drowning’ is loosely based on Piet Mondrian’s primary colour geometric abstract stylings and initial feedback and responses from those in the art community have been phenomenally positive.

Dorina Ceteras

Richard Bourne

Exhibitions

2008 The Palace, Malta Solo Exhibition of 40 works

2008 Grand Hall Concert + Exhibition An Exhibition of Bourne’s work in conjunction with music by Japanese composer Hiroki Okano

2009 ‘Ace’ Film Fashion Show Exhibition Solo Exhibition of works

2009 Le Meridien Villa Exhibition Various Works in group exhibition

2010 Hilton Hotel, Portomaso Exhibition Solo Exhibition of 30 works including unveiling of Art Biennale Award Winning Painting ‘Live Life Connections’

2011 Pledgers Restaurant, Malta Short Exhibition

2013 Ta Nikol Art Gallery, Gozo Full Exhibition of works

2014 Mill Room Gallery, Gozo Full Exhibition of Works

2015 Government Exhibition Halls, Gozo. Month long Solo Exhibition of ‘Canvas Music’ works