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Richard
Patrick Campbell
Place of Birth – Bowraville
Current Place of Residence:
C/o 36 Peppercorn Crescent, FLETCHER, NSW 2287
Agent: 0409740346
 Richard Campbell is an accomplished Artist, who has been
painting for approximately 30 years. He is self taught and
is recognised as one of many Aboriginal artists who works
with both contemporary and traditional mediums and symbols.
He also is developing his skills and techniques in the area
of abstract art.
Richard was part of the stolen generation of which he does
not like to be seen as victim but a person who would like
to learn from the past and work for the future. As a result
of this, Richard was educated up to the first year of high
school. Richard’s first job was working for Fletcher
Jones in the laundry, and he has had many other labouring
jobs over the years. In 1972, Richard went home. He was still
technically a “ward of the state”, but this did
not deter Richard from going back to Sydney. Richard was
then considered a “runaway” and was on the "wanted" list,
for a period of two years, but by the end of this time the
Welfare Board had given up and Richard also became of age.
He was then able to come home again to be with his family,
friends and community.
From the time he retruned home Richard loved to watch his
father work with wood and other resources from nature. He
was very inquisitive as he loved drawing whilst at home,
so watching his father was a wonderful opportunity to bond
with the person who loved him in return. During this time,
he had many opportunities to work with his father and he
learned many skills about arts and craft. Richard’s
other employment included working with the Lewis Street mob,
Telstra for ten years and the Ngaku building Society for
a couple of years.
Returning to studies, he attended the Djygay centre in Kempsey,
studying adult education. Upon completion of this course
Richard continued studying to increase his knowledge with
new technology. Richard’s art talents were noticed
by the Tafe teachers and in return offered Richard some employment.
He casually taught art for a brief period of time, eventually
he resiged to relocate to the Hunter regions to concentrate
on his own development.
It was here that Richard accepted a position within the
Aboriginal Arts and Cultural practices, 1-2-3-4, with the
Purrimaibahn unit at Newcastle TAFE. He provided many workshops
and lessons to help younger aspiring Aboriginal artists,
including young kids at risk.
He has been nominated and won many accolades for his studies
and art. The New South Wales TAFE achievement awards were
one of many rewards that Richard enjoyed. Richard sits on
many local and community committees.
Richard now is studying for his Batchelor of Visual Arts
at the Deakin University in Victoria. This he intends to
use so that he can teach in Universities around the world.
Richard's personal time has been spent painting and privately
exhibiting his art works. One of these are his reflections
of the Awabakal Dreaming stories which now hangs at the new
Aboriginal unit, Wollotuka of the Newcastle University.
Richard began painting at the age of 10, and was instantly
recognised for his natural skills and talent, which is reflected
in his earliest art works. He moved into traditional symbolic
works in his late thirties, enjoying the difficult challenge
of reproducing realistic images of stories that are close
to him through using many mediums on canvas.
Throughout the 1990's to now, Richard enjoyed painting exclusively
on a private commission basis only. Few of his paintings
were exhibited as most of Richard's art works completed in
this period were purchased to people he knew and who recognised
Richard’s talents.
The 2001 Bob Campbell Art competition brought Richard’s
artwork to regional and state-wide attention. His widely
recognised "Dolphin Dreaming", with which he won
this competition, now hangs in Kempsey City Council Chambers.
Through
sheer perseverance, dedication and love of his talent,
Richard has continued over the years to practice and improve
his artistic skills to his present level, enjoying the
recognition
of national exposure throughout the art arena.
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