Moving On, a solo exhibition by artist Richard Ward, will bring the Oughterard Courthouse Arts Programme for Summer 2024 to a close.

Opening this Friday evening, it’s the fourth in the series of shows which started last month.

Born in Yorkshire in England and living in Connemara for decades, Richard Ward is renowned as a wildlife artist whose work can be found in many places, from natural history books to commissions in private collections and in galleries.

He has had solo exhibitions throughout Europe and was invited to exhibit at the prestigious Explorers Club in New York as part of a show to raise funds for endangered raptors of the rainforests.

He has also painted in India and showed his work in Namibia.

Richard’s portrait of the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos, went on to be reproduced as the national stamp for the year of the environment in 2002. His paintings and his interest in wildlife have inspired the making of several TV films.

But, as he explains, his Galway home remains his greatest inspiration.

“For all the excitement of foreign travel, I still get great pleasure returning to the Maam Valley and it’s here I see the world with fresh eyes, giving me a constant source of inspiration for my paintings.”

For this show Moving On, Richard is showcasing a collection of original paintings and prints.

The exhibition will be opened by local councillor Thomas Welby from 7-9pm this Fiday evening, July 26, in the Courthouse Gallery in Oughterard, and continue until Sunday, August 4. It will be open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm.

Pictured: One of the original works in Richard Ward’s new show at Oughterard’s Courthouse Gallery.