Ian Ridley CV
Although I started painting later in life, having been steered away from any creative disciplines in my formative years as a result of a wayward sister attending art college, once I started I became hooked and left my job to paint fulltime 15 years ago. I initially worked exclusively in watercolours in a very structured way with a traditional landscape style inspired by the likes of Edward Seago and Rowland Hilder before developing my own approach in both watercolours and acrylics mixing loose abstract backgrounds with the detailed trees in the foreground. In 2013 I was elected as a member of the Birmingham Watercolour Society.
I have enjoyed a number of solo exhibitions at a variety of venues such as Birmingham Botanical Gardens (twice), Malvern Theatre ( twice ) , Number 8 Gallery in Pershore, the Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Shenstone Community Gallery ( twice ), in my own village on a yearly basis. I also exhibited with the BWS three times annually at Hanbury Hall, Weston Park and Bath and at numerous art and craft events throughout the country.
I also have been a visiting tutor at the Centre of England Arts for a number of years, run an art group in my own village, was accepted to demonstrate and exhibit at the Patchings Art Festival and I continue to run workshops and do demonstrations throughout the Midlands.
Awards
2008 and 2009 Paintings accepted in the RBSA’s Open Art Competition, Birmingham.
2011, 2012, 2015 Painting selected as Best in Show at the Qionton Arts Festival, Birmingham
2012 a painting featured in “The Artist” magazine
2014 Painting awarded a runners up award in the annual Artist of the Year competition run by ArtistsInfo online sponsored and judged by Winsor and Newton.
2015 Painting awarded 2nd place in the annual Artist of the Year competition run by ArtistsInfo online sponsored and judged by Daler Rowney
2017 Painting awarded a runners up award in the annual Artist of the Year competition run by ArtistsInfo online sponsored and judged by Winsor and Newton and a second painting selected for their online exhibition.
2021 and 2022 Paintings accepted in Broadway’s Open Art Competition
2024 Painting selected as one of 6 finalists in the SAA’s Artist of the Year Professional Landscape category and exhibited in London.
2025 awarded Landscape Artist of the Year by the e-magazine Art-Focus.
Other Recent Exhibitions
La Passerelle, La Gacilly,France
Feckenham Village Yearly
Bretforton Theatrebarn
Broadway
Worcestershire Open Studios yearly
Warwickshire Open Studios
Old Lifeboat House, Porthleven (Twice)
Number 8 Gallery, Pershore
The Long Gallery Hanbury Hall
The Gallery, Spetchley Park
Work is currently sold through galleries in Hanbury, Pershore and Tewkesbury.