biography

Colin Riches works from his studio in St Just in Penwith, Cornwall. For many years he lived and worked on the Isle of Wight teaching art in community, education, prison and healthcare settings.

He was the founder trustee of the Albany Visual Arts Award for prisoners; he was lead-artist for the Healing Arts arts and health research programmes at St Mary's Hospital, IOW. He founded Drawing Ahead - an art programme for adults with mental health difficulties; for many years he taught life drawing in community and college settings.

BA Hons Fine Art (sculpture)
University of Newcastle upon Tyne

MA (distinction) Royal College of Art There is Still Life - a study of art in a prison

Methchild Nawiasky Memorial Prize Royal College of Art

Churchill Fellowship - art in prisons in the USA

National Art Collections Fund Award for art in prison.

 

Solo Exhibitions
2015 The Cookbook, St Just, Cornwall
2014 The River & The Sky, Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater, IW
2012 Past & Presence Pelham House Gallery, Cowes, IW
2007 St Thomas Church, Newport, IW
2005 Quay Arts, Newport, IW
2005 Quay Arts, Newport, IW
2003 Alchemist Gallery, Yarmouth, IW
1996 St Mary's in the Lace Market, Nottingham
1996 Chapter House, Lincoln Cathedral
1994 Quay Arts, Newport, IW
1982 Quay Arts, Newport, IW
1981 Arts Centre Group, London

“Round & About” (with Roger Butler & Eric Geddes)
2003 Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead
2003 University of Kent, Canterbury
2004/5 South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell

Selected Group Exhibitions
Norwich Cathedral, Norwich
St Stephen's Walbrook, London
Redwing Gallery, Penzance
The Crypt Gallery, St Ives
Quay Arts, Newport, IW
Southampton City Art Gallery
Portsmouth City Art Gallery
Westminster Cathedral
Portsmouth Cathedral
Bradford Cathedral
Southwell Minster
Royal College of Art
Beatrice Royal Gallery
Havant Arts Centre
Poole Arts Centre
Hampshire Sculpture Trust
DFN Gallery New York.

Commissions include
Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham
Healing Arts IOW
P&O Shipping
Convent of the Holy Name Derby
Works in public and private collections
in UK, USA and Australia

Publications include
Estuary including poems by Lydia Fulleylove, published by Two Ravens Press, 2014
Art Therapy with Offenders - The Hidden Therapy of an Art Education Programme
published by Jessica Kingsley
Transience & Transcendence, Eric Geddes exhibition catalogue