Collection: Richard Nicholas Hannavy - Cousen

Richard Nicholas Hannavy - Cousen is a local artist based in Newenden, Kent. Born in Luton, he discovered his passion for art at an early age. He went on to study Fine Art at Luton School of Art, completing a foundation course under the guidance of Ian Drury and Fabian Peake. Following his studies, Richard explored graphic design and photography before taking on a design role at Cross Paper Wear while living in North London. Throughout this period, he remained deeply committed to developing his own artistic practice alongside his professional work.

Over the years, Richard has developed a distinctive practice spanning oils, acrylics, pen and ink, photography and sculpture. His pen and ink drawings were produced as limited editions and selected for sale by Heal's of London, marking an early professional recognition of his work.  After relocating to Kent, Richard's distinctive approach to painting, characterised by careful observation and a visceral interpretation of natural forms, led to exhibitions including the Port Lympne Zoo Gallery. A period of study in sculpture at Canterbury Christ Church University further deepened his understanding of form and structure - elements that subtly underpin his paintings. His work has been exhibited in Ashford, Canterbury and Wadhurst, and he has undertaken a number of private commissions.
Richard's work is rooted in a deep reverence for the natural world and a profound awareness of humanity's impact upon it. Through painting and sculpture, he seeks not only to represent nature but to interpret its energy, fragility and complexity.

A dedicated runner and lifelong observer of the natural world, Richard draws continual inspiration from environments ranging from the microscopic to the cosmic - from the delicate structure of a butterfly's wing to the vast expanses of ocean and sky. His work reflects this breadth of vision, combining careful observation with imagination and sensitivity, and inviting viewers to pause, reflect and reconnect with the world around them.
 
Working primarily in oils and acrylics, Richard brings an almost sculptural sensitivity to paint, carefully constructing form through layered colour and precise tonal variation. His practice combines observation with visionary interpretation, allowing natural objects, butterflies, whale flukes, organic structures - to become both subject and symbol.
 
The butterfly has been a recurring motif in his work, explored both as biological study and metaphor for transformation and impermanence. Similarly, his Whale Flukes series reflects a compassionate response to environmental degradation, serving as a visual meditation on the vulnerability of marine life and the destructive consequences of human intervention.
 
Richard's approach is meticulous and deeply personal. A perfectionist in his craft, he works in solitude, allowing space for reflection and careful execution. His art is driven not by trend, but by curiosity, empathy and a sustained fascination with the interconnectedness of life, from the smallest living organism to the vastness of the cosmos.