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'A Manifesto of Painting' – Richard Kenton Webb at MIRROR, Arts University Plymouth
Tuesday, 1 April, 2025 — 'A Manifesto of Painting' is a new exhibition in MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth – An exploration of colour, materiality, and the language of painting by Richard Kenton Webb, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking and a subject tutor on MA Fine Art.
<p dir="ltr">MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth will host <a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/whats-on/a-manifesto-of-painting">‘A Manifesto of Painting’</a>, a solo exhibition by award-winning artist and educator <strong>Richard Kenton Webb</strong>, from <strong>Saturday</strong> <strong>12 April to Saturday 31 May 2025</strong>. The exhibition explores the materiality and emotional power of colour, culminating in a <strong>bold and immersive response to the colour green</strong>. The show opens with a <a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/whats-on/opening-event-a-manifesto-of-painting">free public reception</a> on <strong>Friday 11 April from 5pm to 7pm</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Richard Kenton Webb is <strong>Course Leader for</strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking"> <strong>BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</strong></a><strong> and a subject tutor on</strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art"> <strong>MA Fine Art</strong></a><strong> at Arts University Plymouth</strong>, balancing his teaching with an internationally recognised artistic practice. Winner of the <strong>Sunny Art Prize (2020)</strong>, Richard’s work is held in collections across the UK, Europe, China, Japan, and the USA. His exhibitions include <strong>Benjamin Rhodes Arts (London), the Martin Museum of Art (Texas), Hefei Modern Art, (China), LARQ Gallery (Tasmania), the Sokei Academy (Tokyo)</strong> and <strong>Milton’s Cottage (Chalfont St Giles)</strong>.<br /></p>
Richard Webb – 'Nemesis Triptych' – Oil on linen (2023)
<p dir="ltr">At the heart of <em>'</em>A Manifesto of Painting' is the belief that <strong>colour is a language </strong>– one that is material, emotional, and deeply human. As Richard explains, "I believe that painting is a human language that will never disappear. From the dawn of time, materials and our imaginations have fused to create truly remarkable paintings and drawings – visual poetry that communicates a hidden realm."</p>
<p>Richard’s paintings explore the <strong>physicality of paint and the expressive potential of colour</strong>, reflecting a lifelong inquiry into <strong>how colour communicates meaning</strong>.</p>
I believe that painting is a human language that will never disappear. From the dawn of time, materials and our imaginations have fused to create truly remarkable paintings and drawings – visual poetry that communicates a hidden realm.
Richard Kenton Webb
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Green</strong> has been Richard’s focus since arriving in Plymouth in 2020. This exhibition represents his <strong>Manifesto of Painting</strong>, a visual thesis that reaffirms painting as a <strong>slow, sensory, and countercultural practice</strong>. Richard describes colour as "one of the great uncharted areas of human expression. We don’t fully understand its potential, how it allows us to communicate feelings, emotions, and interior worlds. Psychologically, we’re only at the very beginning. It’s the big frontier, the empty canvas waiting to be explored."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Aligning himself with the <strong>English visionary landscape tradition</strong>, Richard draws inspiration from <strong>William Blake, Samuel Palmer, Paul Nash, and Peter Lanyon</strong>. His paintings are deeply personal, <strong>woven with biography and the raw energy of pigment</strong>, engaging with the <strong>alchemy of colour</strong> to translate emotions and memories into visual form.<br /></p>
Richard Kenton Webb mixes paint
<p dir="ltr">Richard’s approach to painting has been shaped by a deep investigation into <strong>colour as a structured language</strong>. As a young teacher during the rise of <strong>BritArt in the 1990s</strong>, he identified a <strong>lack of practical colour teaching</strong> in art education. This led him to develop ‘<strong>An Alphabet’ </strong>and<strong> ‘A Colour Grammar’</strong>, pairing each colour in the spectrum with an <strong>earth pigment</strong>, providing artists with a <strong>framework to engage with colour as a tangible, physical material</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since 1998, Richard’s work has followed a continuous <strong>conversation with colour</strong>:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>2000-2005</strong> – 'A Colour Grammar', a series of 22 diptychs</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>2005-2007</strong> - Colour Forms, a series of 22 Sculptures</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>2007 onwards</strong> – ‘Red, then Orange’, ‘Warm/Cold Contrast’, ‘Yellow in Tasmania’</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>2011-2021</strong> – ‘Light/Dark Contrast’, a decade-long response to <strong>Milton’s 'Paradise Lost'</strong></p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>2021-present</strong> – ‘Green’, a new chapter in his practice, shaped by the landscapes of <strong>Plymouth and Wembury</strong></p></li></ul>
<p dir="ltr">For Richard, colour is <strong>something to be handled, mixed, and experienced</strong>. He makes his own paints and encourages others to do the same, ensuring that the <strong>alchemy of materials remains at the heart of painting</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Painting doesn’t need electricity,” Richard says. “Painting is organic and natural. It’s slow and countercultural. Most of all, painting allows us to express our full humanity – the alchemy between us, the materials, ideas, and making."<br /></p>
Richard Kenton Webb
<p dir="ltr">Richard’s dual role as an <strong>exhibiting artist and educator</strong> places him at the forefront of contemporary painting, bridging professional practice with academic research. His teaching spans both<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking"> <strong>BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</strong></a><strong> and</strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art"> <strong>MA Fine Art</strong></a>, shaping the next generation of artists through <strong>his expertise in colour, materiality, and the philosophy of painting</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Alongside ‘A Manifesto of Painting’ at MIRROR, Richard’s work will also be featured in ‘Search & Practice’ at Artmill Gallery (29 March – 26 April), a group exhibition of BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking artists and educators from Arts University Plymouth exploring <strong>the relationship between practice and teaching</strong>. Additionally, his solo ‘Life Drawing’ exhibition at The Talk Shop Gallery in Stonehouse (13 – 31 May), commissioned by Richard’s former Arts University Plymouth MA student, Kieran Walsh, highlights <strong>the role of observational drawing</strong> in his approach to painting, printmaking, and visual storytelling.<br /></p>
This new show exemplifies Richard Kenton Webb’s dedication and deep commitment to contemporary painting. His lifelong work in colour and its psychological and poetic effects is remarkable and so is his commitment to teaching, ensuring that the next generation of artists have the same grounding and love for colour and the materials of painting, drawing and printmaking. As a specialist arts University, our students are taught by highly skilled and talented teaching staff across all our creative courses and Richard demonstrates this with his award-winning and internationally significant work.
Professor Stephen Felmingham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for Arts University Plymouth
<p dir="ltr">MIRROR’s <strong>Exhibitions Producer, Andy Cluer</strong>, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard Kenton Webb’s ‘A Manifesto of Painting’ to MIRROR. Richard has been a long term supporter for painting in education and the arts. This exhibition offers an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the talent of the academic teams at Arts University Plymouth whilst continuing our support toward the professional development of South West-based creative practitioners.”<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Two public talks will accompany ‘A Manifesto of Painting’, offering audiences deeper insight into Richard Kenton Webb’s approach to colour, materiality, and the role of painting today.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On <strong>Monday 28 April 2025</strong>, Richard Kenton Webb will be in conversation with writer and art historian <strong>Dr Richard Davey</strong>, exploring the wider context of ‘A Manifesto of Painting’ and Richard’s ongoing fascination with colour as an emotional and expressive language.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On <strong>Thursday 8 May 2025</strong>, Richard returns to Plymouth Arts Cinema to discuss the exhibition with celebrated academic <strong>Dr Christopher Cook</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Both events take place at <strong>Plymouth Arts Cinema</strong>, 5:30pm–7pm and 6pm–7:30pm respectively. <strong>Admission is free</strong>, but <strong>booking is essential via Eventbrite</strong>:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-manifesto-of-painting-an-interview-with-richard-davey-tickets-1299212482509?aff=oddtdtcreator">28 April: Artist in Conversation with Dr Richard Davey</a></p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/richard-kenton-webb-artist-in-conversation-with-dr-christopher-cook-tickets-1299214117399?aff=oddtdtcreator">8 May: Artist in Conversation with Dr Christopher Cook</a></p></li></ul>
<p dir="ltr">'A Manifesto of Painting' runs in MIRROR at <strong>Arts University Plymouth from 12 April to 31 May 2025</strong>, with an <strong>opening reception on Friday 11 April from 17:00 – 19:00</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">MIRROR is open <strong>Monday to Friday, 9:00 – 17:00, and Saturday, 9:00 – 13:00</strong>. Entry is free.</p>
<p><strong>For further information, visit </strong><a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/"><strong>mirrorplymouth.com</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
Richard Kenton Webb painting
<p dir="ltr">Spring 2025 marks a major moment for contemporary painting in Plymouth, with three nationally-significant exhibitions running concurrently across the city. ‘<a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/whats-on/a-manifesto-of-painting">A Manifesto of Painting</a>’ in MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth,<a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/exhibitions/john-lyons-carnivalesque"> ‘John Lyons: Carnivalesque</a>’ at The Box, and<a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/whats-on/kingdom"> ‘Kingdom</a>’ at The Levinsky Gallery each offer a distinct perspective on the power of painting today.</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>John Lyons: Carnivalesque</strong> <em>(The Box, 8 Feb – 5 May 2025)</em> is the first major retrospective of the Caribbean British painter and poet John Lyons, whose expressive works explore the folklore and mythology of Trinidad and Tobago. His vibrant canvases fuse colour, poetry, and storytelling, celebrating the power of painting to evoke cultural memory.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Kingdom</strong> <em>(The Levinsky Gallery, 12 Apr – 7 Jun 2025)</em> presents new works by Danny Fox, a self-taught painter from St Ives whose bold, expressive paintings explore Cornish identity and personal history. Drawing on both local landscapes and wider influences, Fox’s work challenges traditional narratives of place and belonging.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>A Manifesto of Painting</strong> <em>(MIRROR, Arts University Plymouth, 12 Apr – 31 May 2025)</em> showcases Richard Kenton Webb’s inquiry into colour as a language, culminating in a striking visual exploration of green. Rooted in the traditions of British visionary painters, Webb’s work invites audiences to engage with painting as an act of material and emotional transformation.</p></li></ul>
<p dir="ltr">Despite their differences in style and subject matter, all three exhibitions share a deep commitment to painting as a vital, living practice. Running simultaneously in Plymouth this spring, they highlight the city’s status as a dynamic centre for contemporary painting.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Richard Kenton Webb reflects on this moment: "In 2025, three major painting exhibitions will run in Plymouth at the same time. Three completely different artists with three distinct visions, all in one city. Painting is alive here. Plymouth believes in painting. This is a leading city for contemporary painting, and for colour. My message to journalists is simple: please come to Plymouth and experience contemporary painting."<br /></p>
