Brian Ryder ROI (1944-2025)
Originally from North London, Brian turned professional in 1993 to pursue a life in painting following 32 years in Architecture, having been a member of the British Institute of Architectural Technicians and an Associate of the Institute of Architects and Surveyors. Demands for Brian’s teaching skills grew and he ran numerous painting courses over the years in Britain and abroad. It was not until an operation over the Christmas period of 2014/15 that Brian finally gave up teaching and, following a three-month recuperation period concentrated exclusively on painting. For many years Brian exhibited his work in many galleries In London, Europe and the USA. Working with a Venetian promoter Brian was able to take part In the Venice Biennale and his paintings were also exhibited in galleries and museums in Italy, Spain, Malta and France.
Brian painted in most media but in later years concentrated more and more on his oils. Brian’s work was nearly always landscape-based, using a distinctive style somewhere between Impressionist and abstract but invariably trying to capture a “feeling” in the chosen subject. Brian usually painted in his studio basing his paintings on his experience of the landscape in all its seasons, but when on location usually painted in pen and wash, being an extension for his love of drawing. As Brian said:
“My paintings on location normally end up as illustrative depictions of the subject which I am now not really interested in …. l seem to have done all that and continually feel the need to move on. Creating paintings in the studio helps me do just that.”
Brian said about his work:
“I paint with shapes placed Into a composition, even with skies. I try to catch fleeting views of the landscape I know and love aiming to catch changing atmospheres normally using close tones to achieve the effect I want. I succeed when the viewer makes the picture … not me.”
In 2008 all four paintings submitted to the ROI annual exhibition at the Mall galleries in London were accepted. The following year, when all four submitted paintings were again accepted, Brian was elected as a Provisional member of the Institute then following this as an Associate, finally becoming a full member in 2011/12. Brian felt that the accolade of never having had a single painting rejected by the ROI and subsequently becoming elected as a Council member of the ROI was a great achievement in his painting career.
With his agent Adrian Hill, Brian formed the institute of East Anglian Artists in 2012. In November 2024 Brian’s exhibition “40 going on 80” was staged at the Adrian Hill Fine Art Gallery in Holt.
Adrian said of Brian:
“The exhibition was not just a celebration of his 80th year of age, but a reflection of his desire to continually explore ways of painting in order to convey feelings of atmosphere. Brian’s untiring support towards his fellow artists, mischievous sense of humour and zest for life will be remembered with great affection”
