Brian Ryder

About Brian Ryder

Following a career in Architecture after leaving school, Brian qualified as a full member of the British Institute of Architectural Technicians and Associate of the Institute of Architects and Surveyors during his 35 years in architects office.

Working most of his time in London (as he was originally from North London), Brian finished his architectural life in Norwich in 1994, having moved to North Norfolk in 1987. It was the introduction of computer aided design that persuaded him to take up painting full time, as computers took over and his love of drawing disappeared from his day to day life.

"I took great pains to ensure that Architectural reproductions did not dictate my art although my work is strongly biased towards good drawing techniques", says Brian. In a way this stemmed from his initial love of J.M.W. Turners paintings, whose influence remains with Brian till this day.

Unusually, Brian started many years ago with oil painting, went through a watercolour phase, and finally went back to oil painting - "the love of my life." Upon leaving architecture Brian started to teach more and more having started this side of his art back in 1978. After numerous British and foreign teaching trips, three books and six teaching DVDs later, (the last was released in January), Brian has now stopped his more intensive teaching to concentrate more on his own oils, having had all submissions accepted and hung at the Mall Galleries.

Following his selection as an associate member in 2010, Brian was elected to a full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 2011.