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RICHARD ROWAN

Born: Northampton.

Lives and Works: Wimbledon, London.

 

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A fine art graduate, Richard was awarded the Daily Mail newspaper's "Artist of the Year' accolade in 1992 whilst still completing his formal training. His path to becoming a professional artist was far from linear, however, with Richard first pursuing a career in motorsport, starting as a 'junior trucky'  before working his way up to managing hospitality. Richard toured internationally on the World Rally and Formula One circuits. However his appreciation for vast horizons and skies ablaze with colour lingered, and he often found himself stopping to admire his surroundings, be that a sunrise over Brands Hatch or the very particular yellow tone to the clouds over Argentina His artist disposition remained with him, as did his trusty sketchpad and camera..

"Getting used to the fact that paintings can and do go wrong makes the ones that work all the more rewarding."

Twenty years later, and now Richard Rowan is the undisputed master for his unique reverse painting technique, defying all the normal rules. Richard works backwards by painting the foreground first with all the fine detail, and the background last. The glass itself replaces the function of varnish for sealing and protecting, giving the painting a wonderfully shiny, glossy effect. Even though the surface is very flat, when the image is mounted in a box frame it appears to be floating, this medium enables him to achieve a much smoother gradient and colour spectrum than canvas. In turn his natural phenomena are brought to life.

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“I do like to challenge myself with difficult work. Painting oil on glass can make you want to tear your hair out but is also satisfying at the same time. When I sit down to paint, I want to paint better than the last time; pushing the boundaries of what I can do.”

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Richard Rowan’s distinctive technique of oil painting on glass involves a meticulous process that sets his work apart from traditional methods. Rather than painting on canvas, Rowan paints on the reverse side of a glass panel, starting with the foreground and building layers backward toward the background. This challenging technique requires intense concentration and precision, as each layer of paint must dry completely before the next can be applied. The process can take weeks, as the oil paints need time to set and cure between stages. Rowan uses customized tools—such as sculpted paintbrush handles and a specially formulated blending medium—that he has developed to suit the demands of working beneath the glass. One of the most striking elements of Rowan’s technique is the way the glass interacts with light. The transparent nature of the glass adds a dynamic, ever-changing quality to his works, as the painting’s appearance shifts with the ambient light in the room. This effect enhances the depth and vibrancy of his landscapes, making them appear to shimmer and change depending on the time of day or light conditions. Rowan’s process is not only time-consuming but also labor-intensive, requiring a combination of patience, skill, and an unwavering commitment to achieving the highest level of detail and realism in every piece. The result is artwork that captivates viewers with its photographic quality and breathtaking beauty.

Painting Beyond The Glass

Available Art

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