Altarpiece

Richard Shirley Smith was born in London and educated at Harrow where Maurice Percival was art master. While at Harrow he was introduced to the poet and painter David Jones who had a great influence on his work. He went on to study at the Slade, 1956-60, under John Aldridge, then for two years in Rome. A painter muralist, collagist, illustrator, printmaker and teacher, he has remained a classical traditionalist whose romantic realism often has delightful elements of whimsy. His notable work as a book illustrator includes titles for the Folio Society and Limited Editions Club and his Selected Engravings were published in 1983. In 1985 a mojor retrospective was held at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and at the Royal Insitute of British Architects Heinz Gallery. As a muralist he has handled prestigious commissions for sites such as Kensington Palace and the Guardian Royal Exchange. He taught at St Albans School of Art and was later head of art at Marlborough School. He has held one-man exhibitions at the Maas Gallery, Chris Beetles and Abbott & Holder. He now lives in Wiltshire.