Richard Rennie - 1932 - ZIMBABWE

Landscape

Autumn Landscape

Landscapes

Landscapes

About the Artist

Richard Rennie was born on a farm in the midlands of Rhodesia. As a boy he roamed freely and observed the undulating landscape in its colours and tones, occasionally committing them to paper in sketch, crayon and watercolour. These were halcyon days in a country not directly touched by World War II.

On finishing his schooling in what was then Salisbury (Harare), Richard enrolled at the Durban School of Art, passing with distinction. He went on to work at several advertising agencies, where he began to exploit his natural talent for fine drawing and colour.

After ten years in the advertising business, Richard took the plunge and opened an art materials shop and Gallery in Salisbury. Here his interest and dedication to serious painting was focused and consolidated. Richard became fully adept in painting in oils and acrylics, but found watercolour best suited to his impulsive nature, giving him greater satisfaction than the spontaneous commitment of ideas to paper.

In 1979 Richard sold his business in Salisbury and moved to South Africa with his family. After a brief spell in Johannesburg, this South African artist moved back to Natal where he drew inspiration from the rolling landscapes of the midlands. His abstract, impressionistic landscape art made sensitive use of colour in portraying glorious clouds and skyscapes, and became popular amongst collectors, corporations and galleries.

Richard is married with two children and one grandchild.
 

Style & Format

Recently Richard has returned to oils, acrylics, oil pastels and mixed media whilst expanding his range of subjects to include floral and abstract studies in miniature and normal 60cm x 90cm format.

There is presently talk of a book or ’catalogue raissone’ of Richard’s South African artwork, which would include an explanation of his techniques – and it is still to come to fruition.

Richard has mentored and supported several successful painters during his career - including Peter Hall and Sue Kemp. Barry Johnson has described this South African artist as the ‘doyen of South African landscape watercolourists’.

Richard has had too many one-man shows to mention in South Africa, Namibia and overseas. As an artist he gave generously of his time in the teaching of others.

You can purchase or commission South African watercolour art by Richard Rennie now. Simply contact Fine Art Portfolio on info@fineartportfolio.co.za or +27 (0)21 433 0908.