email: cambridgeartstudio@gmail.com

I've painted and drawn continuously since I was a small child. Most days I am working on something. I've produced a lot of work over the years, much of which is now scattered around the world. I am fortunate to be able to spend my time in a small garden studio in Cambridge, surrounded by trees and and birdlife.

 

Primarily I like working from life. I spent decades just painting and drawing on location without using a camera. Nowadays I also use photographic resources as well if necessary. There's nothing like painting direct from the subject though, which is what I value most and continue to do when the weather permits. All my portraits and life drawings are drawn direct from the subject.

 

I grew up in Portsmouth (UK) and my old, grainy black and white photos taken when I was at art college have proved amazingly popular. I wish there were more of them. Here's a link to the Portsmouth and Southsea set of images: www.flickr.com/photos/bakerart/sets/72157625861066096/ I went on to Winchester Art School but left after a year (long story). However I did find my life partner there. After a few years in miscellaneous jobs while painting and studying I obtained a place at Christ's College, Cambridge (English Tripos) graduating in 1977. Continued to live in Cambridge.

 

For most of my life I used film cameras, developing and printing my own photos. I've now sold off my darkroom gear because I need to devote my time to painting and drawing and I had to have a clear-out. Many years of using manual film cameras is an education that pays off with digital cameras. At present I am mostly using a Canon EOS M3 and a Sony DSC-RX100M3.

 

Around 1,.4m hits on Flickr as at December 2025

I also now make great use of BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/bakerart.bsky.social

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cambridgeartstudio/

Threads: www.threads.net/@cambridgeartstudio

 

I am an amateur musician and used to play fiddle for Scottish dancing but that group finished meeting during the pandemic. I also play mandolin and guitar.

 

I have been involved in many exhibitions over the years (see list below), notably at the Conservatory Gallery in Cambridge during the 80’s and 90’s, the Linda Blackstone Gallery (formerly in Pinner) for a long period commencing in 2001, the Bow House Gallery in Barnet (from 1991 for several years until the owners retired), the Whittlesford Gallery near Cambridge (several successful years until change of ownership), and the CDS (twice a year since 1983). For a period I entered work for exhibitions at the Mall Galleries and examples were shown at the NEAC, the RBA and the RI. In 1998 my drawings were featured in the book Figure Sketching School (Readers’ Digest/Quarto Publishing). I am pleased to see I have an entry in David Buckman’s “Artists in Britain since 1945” where I am described as “a versatile artist and draughtsman”.

 

Paintings and drawings can be viewed in the studio and in a small garden room in Cambridge but as things are generally untidy please arrange in advance by email (cambridgartstudio@gmail.com) - preferably not in the winter. I can normally provide a parking space. If interested, prices can be negotiated (I am not over-ambitious in my pricing). For photos of the two outbuildings I use as studios see this album www.flickr.com/photos/bakerart/albums/72177720330800651/

 

Richard Baker - exhibitions include:

 

1980 - Gallery Soleil, Cambridge (one-man show). Short-lived gallery

 

Twice a year since 1983 - Cambridge Drawing Society

 

1984 - Eleven Artists of Cambridge and Heidelberg (shown in both cities)

 

1989 - Royal Society of British Artists (Mall Galleries)

 

1990 - New English Art Club (Mall Galleries)

 

1990 - Sebastian Pearson Gallery, Cambridge, selected work (Sebastian was keen on my paintings and regularly showed some of them in his antique shop (and sold them). I was upset when I heard that he had died.

 

1989/91 - The Hiroko Kato Gallery, Tokyo, selected work. This lady had a list of artists she regularly visited and took work unframed back to her gallery. I heard that she had sold some of them

 

1991 January - Clare Hall Gallery, Cambridge - one-man show

 

1991 September - Gallery on the Cam, Cambridge – two-man show

 

1993 - Royal Institute of Watercolour Artists (Mall Galleries)

 

1993 October - Conservatory Gallery, Cambridge - one-man show and a long-term continuous involvement until the gallery closed.

 

1993 onwards - The Bow House Gallery, Barnet - annual group exhibitions and a shared exhibition, continuous involvement until owners retired from running the gallery.

 

1996 April - Conservatory Gallery, Cambridge - two-man show

 

1997 November - New English Art Club (just one painting shown but that made me happy!)

 

1998 March - The Old Fire Engine House, Ely - I showed my work downstairs in this lovely gallery (another artist who I didn't know had the upstairs area. I stood in at short notice for this exhibition and it had good sales

 

1999 January to March - Clare Hall Gallery, Cambridge - second one-man show

 

1999 onwards for a long period – The Whittlesford Gallery, Cambridge - one-man show (and several mixed shows)

 

from 2000 October - Linda Blackstone Gallery, Pinner (now Totteridge) – regular gallery artist for about 14 years. Work included in the gallery’s displays at the Affordable Art Fairs and in the Watercolour and Drawings Fair at the Royal Academy. In 2001 included in Metropolis 21: A Study of Urban Life in the 21st Century - mixed exhibition. Work shown at her stand at the Cambridge Art Fair 2014. I eventually stopped taking work there because the driving was too much for me.

 

2000 October - Gallery 96, King's Street, Cambridge - one-man show. This was a very enjoyable exhibition to do and there was a crowded preview with lots of sales.

 

2001 March to May - Conservatory Gallery - My View: Fenscapes, Cloudscapes, Cityscapes

 

2012 Cambridge Artworks – one-man show

 

2013 onwards – Curiosity Gallery, St Ives Cambs, now closed but a lot of sales over a number of years and |'m very grateful for their support.

 

2014 – Cambridge City Art Fair with Linda Blackstone Gallery

 

2015, 2016 & 2017 COAX at Swavesey, with paintings selected for follow-up exhibitions at the Over Gallery, the Babylon Gallery, Ely and the Haddenham Gallery (2017 First Prize winner)

 

Autumn 2017 Selected work at the Book and Print Gallery, Newnham, Cambridge until it closed and moved to Oxford.

 

I have shown and sold work over many years in various public buildings, offices and colleges etc.

I'm somewhat retired from seeking out exhibition spaces because I no longer drive which limits my abillity to deliver framed paintings

 

email: cambridgeartstudio@gmail.com

website: www.cambridgeartstudio.com (not https yet)

 

Garden studio on Google Photos: photos.app.goo.gl/KhDhuCa7mwBN7Jyt7