Hello, my name is Chris Richards,
and I'm a doodle addict. Ystradgynlais, Wales

In 2020 I returned to regular art after multiple 'false starts' since 2016. I did oil paintings for months, then burned out in August. I've been blocked ever since, but recently started making time for my art as a daily practice. I love the Welsh landscape. It's my biggest inspiration.

I specialize in drawing, landscapes, painting.

You can also find me on:

Chris Richards' Uploads

A colour sketch of woodland near my home. I'm still not sure whether to turn this into a larger piece or not - or maybe I could switch medium and try it in watercolour?

This stream was in the foothills of Cadair Idris. I took a step away from my precision sketching to do something a bit faster and loose.

This was my first full-scale piece of 2020. One of my favourite locations in Wales.

Hail clouds rolling in over freshly ploughed fields. Acrylic 4x6".

My first art of 2021, and the first in about 7 months after feeling blocked since last year. Reference was some random photo of a house on a country lane from when I used to go for long walks in Sussex. I decided to push myself into doing some form of artwork every day. This was the result from day three.

A birthday card I drew for my partner not long after we first met. The dog is her Labrador, Jack looking over a slightly artistic licence version of Ystradgynlais.

Gwenffrwd-Dinas is an RSPB nature reserve out in the wilds of mid-Wales. You could easily miss it driving past, but if you do park up, you're treated to some gorgeous scenery. Here the river Tywi (the longest in Wales) flows past the wooded riverbank then through a rocky gorge on its way down to Carmarthen. Pen and watercolour on watercolour paper (6x8").

A colour sketch of Llyn Brianne in preparation for a much larger piece. The sketch was done in acrylic, but then I changed my mind and started the full-sized piece in oils.

A bit of a departure from my usual style. I wanted to try something a bit messy, fast, and loose. The scene is an ancient woodland in Pembrokeshire called Tŷ Canol, an atmospheric place and full of inspiration for artworks. Pen and watercolour in Seawhite sketchbook.

Daler Rowney and Winsor Newton do a watercolour called Sepia. I absolutely love the tone of the Rowney one and had a play with it here. I'd really like to do a proper sepia painting some day.

I stumbled across this dilapidated coach house that would have once been part of the Glynhir estate while exploring the public footpaths around Llandybie. I loved the way nature had reclaimed it.

A 4x6" colour sketch of Sgwyd Gwladys in preparation for a much larger piece. Sgwyd Gwladys is a beautiful waterfall - one of many on the Neath 'Waterfall Country' walking route starting in Pontneddfechan.

Llyn Mymbyr, Snowdonia. This view looking in the opposite direction to Snowdon. First time using a Uniball UB-150, but the paper allowed it to bleed somewhat so the lines were a little heavier than intended. I think it would benefit from better quality paper or a finer pen.

Cefan Sidan is an immense sandy beach in Carmarthenshire. The site of several shipwrecks, with some to still be found in the sands, the beach stretches for miles. This view is in winter looking towards the Gower.

A 4x6" colour sketch of Amroth Beach, Pembrokeshire in preparation for a much larger piece. The light that day was gorgeous, but the level of detail in the distance really could do with a larger canvas to make the most of it.

New Quay is a quaint little seaside town on the Ceredigion coast. This was my second attempt at pen and wash in 2018 and it totally bombed. I'm not sure there's anything I like about this - the colours, the linework, the lack of texture. Nah! Definitely worth trying again at some point.

The reference for this painting was a quick snap I took at the roadside on a trip up to Angelsey. Didn't really manage to capture the scale or the atmosphere.

In late 2018, after some time not doing any artwork, I really wanted to get back into it. I fancied doing something different and invested in some soft pastels. This was my first go with them and it was a hell of a learning curve about how they adhere to the paper, and how they blend. I'm not really sure the pastels I was using were soft enough for the look I wanted, but I like how loose this one turned out.

I started sketching a scene and thought "I'm not that good at drawing trees", so rather than do an entire scene, I thought I'd have a go at a single tree as an exercise. In hindsight I used too thick a pen. Time to break out the 0.1 pens for future sketches.

I've seen so many wonderful skies since returning to Wales. This one is dawn over the sleepy village of Llandybie.

Winter sun shines on walkers on Cefn Sidan beach, Carmarthenshire.

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Chris Richards' Uploads