Only fragmentary details are known of the background of Richard Rodier Rivron before he established himself in Brisbane in 1950. According to Paul Grano’s foreword to his 1954 exhibition at the Moreton Galleries he was a student of the portraitist, Glyn Philpot, RA (1884-1937) and travelled in Europe before he arrived in Sydney. Here he exhibited with the Contemporary Art Society of New South Wales (where apparently he was encouraged by William Dobell) and was included in two Wynne Prizes: Deserted Farmhouse in 1947 and Old Buildings, Victoria Road and Eddy Avenue in 1949.

He came to Brisbane when he held a solo exhibition at the Moreton Galleries in 1950. The show was both praised and criticised for the versatility of his techniques which a survey of the few known works makes obvious – Portrait of Kathleen Coren in a private collection makes one aware of his ability in this area. He set up classes in the attic of the old School of Arts Building, Anne Street and soon established a following as an alternative to the traditional teaching methods at the Central Technical College. Betty Churcher (née Cameron) recalled the impact of his teaching as he promoted the innovative 'free drawing’ techniques described in Kimon Nicolades’ The Natural Way to Draw 1941. Betty Churcher, Kathleen Coren, Virginia Ferrier, and Lola McCausland may be numbered among his students.

In 1951 he established classes in the Studio of St. Mary’s Church, Kangaroo Point which was to be an alternative site for inspirational art teaching for more than twenty years. The classes were taken over by Margaret Cilento in 1953 and subsequently John Rigby, Jon Molvig, Roy and Betty Churcher and Mervyn Moriarty. He departed Brisbane 'under a cloud’ but held a final solo exhibition at the Moreton Galleries in 1954 before returning to Europe and disappearing entirely from record.

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R.

Date written:

2010

Last updated:

2011