Richard Heley

He attended Melbourne College of Education from 1969 to 1973.

Richard's artistic pursuits span various mediums and disciplines. As a visual artist, he is known for his painting, live performance painting, and interactive art with children. He is also an accomplished writer and performer of poetry, short stories, and children's stories. His talents as an international performance poet and songwriter have taken him on numerous tours and engagements, including several gigs sharing the stage with Joe Strummer’s early band the 101’s upstairs at The Chippenham.

In 1997, Richard became the Farrago UK Poetry Slam Champion, and he represented the UK as a member of the London team in the first World Championship Poetry Slam in Asheville, USA. He has toured the United States five times, sharing his poetic performances. Richard has also made significant contributions to the arts community, having founded the Paddington International Poetry Festival and curated and administered Jasmine Cottage Gallery in Derby and Maida Hill Place Gallery in London.

Art critic Nicholas Usherwood describes Richard Heley as an artist who defies conventions and embraces a diverse range of creative expressions. Richard's time in Australia and his experiences with passionate teachers left a lasting impression on his artistic journey. His paintings, influenced by his travels, collaborations, interactions with children, and poetic pursuits, exude rich imagery, bold brushwork, and vibrant colours. Richard's work invites viewers to enter his imaginative world with freedom and exhilaration, combining influences from Gauguin, Chagall, and Sidney Nolan while eschewing English restraint and reticence.

Richard Heley's creative career has been marked by a nonconformist spirit and a relentless pursuit of artistic exploration across various mediums, making him a unique and celebrated figure in the art world.