Richard Manning

Richard Manning

After a successful career as a London-based illustrator and photo retoucher, with a client list including some of the most widely regarded creative teams working at the time, Richard ceased working in London in 2001.

 In 1973 he met Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis, and for the next 23 years Richard was their prime retoucher on the majority of album sleeves designed by Hipgnosis. Sleeves worked on, among many others, were Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here", Pretty Things "Silk Torpedo" and "Savage Eye", Led Zeppelin "Presence" and "In Through The Out Door" Paul McCartney illustration "Wings Over America", plus a number of other McCartney albums, Black Sabbath "Technical Ecstacy", Genesis, Peter Gabrial, 10cc, Wishbone Ash. He also illustrated numerous books for the publisher Dorling & Kindersley and his illustrations and artwork has appeared in books by Hipgnosis, Pink Floyd and books on the art of Airbrush illustration.

 From 2006 Richard turned his attention to Oil Painting. He had completed a few oil paintings in the past but now he had the time and space to devote his energy to oils. Old holland oils were suggested by a friend. A good suggestion. A wonderful depth and purity of colour. Having spent most of his life retouching photographs and producing Airbrush Illustrations to a fine degree and using a fine Sable brush, the challenge was to use larger brushes and a pallette knife to try to get away from fine detail in his paintings. Up until 2014 large smooth canvasses were used. From 2015 smaller paintings on cotton flax have been produced. In 2017 after a stay in hospital, Richard changed to producing a series of abstract Oil Paintings on board and smoother canvas, primed felt board and smooth lightweight foam board which resulted in his latest more image based work being much freer. Because the Old Holland paints were so expensive, he was reluctant to squeeze more paint from the tube than was needed. Daler Rowney Georgian oils being much cheaper but still vibrant colours aided his freedom of expression.

Since 2023 primed, 6mm MDF has been his preferred  surface to work on. Using a roller to prime the board with 3 coats of Acrylic primer gives a texture similar to 300gsm watercolour paper.