Richard Chipperfield
Richard Chipperfield is a sci-fi, fantasy and horror painter working with UV-reactive acrylics, combining airbrush and traditional techniques to create bold, high-impact imagery inspired by classic genre art and cinema.
Richard Chipperfield is a sci-fi, fantasy and horror painter who works with UV-reactive acrylics using both airbrush and traditional brushes. Growing up around his father and uncle’s zoo and amusement park in the 1970s and 80s, he was inspired by hand-painted show fronts and ride art, alongside influences from classic film posters and artists such as H. R. Giger, Boris Vallejo and Tony Hart. Returning to painting during lockdown, he shared his work on Facebook, leading to his first book illustration commission. His practice combines bold colour, dramatic lighting and immersive narratives, with ambitions to work on sci-fi and horror commissions while exploring new techniques like gilding.
Interview with Richard Chipperfield
Richard Chipperfield is a painter who brings the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy and horror vividly to life through his use of UV-reactive acrylics, blending airbrush and traditional brush techniques. His work is defined by bold colour, dramatic lighting and immersive narratives, drawing inspiration from classic film posters, the imaginative work of artists like H. R. Giger and Boris Vallejo, and the hand-painted show fronts he grew up around in his father and uncle’s zoo and amusement park during the 1970s and 80s.
Having returned to painting during lockdown, Richard shared his work on Facebook, which quickly led to his first book illustration commission and reignited his artistic career. Although he has yet to formally exhibit, the experience of creating large-scale show fronts and witnessing public reactions early in his career remains deeply influential. In this interview, Richard reflects on his artistic journey, sources of inspiration, and ambitions for future commissions in the realms of sci-fi, horror and fantasy art.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
Growing up in my father and uncles zoo and amusement park in the 70s and early 80’s, I used to sit and watch my dad‘s ride art is/decorator William Smee (who was also a clown for Chipperfield Circus when he wasn’t working for them painting animals on show fronts) work during the winter months.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
I’ve always been a fan of pop art, brightly coloured images and artists like H Giger and Boris Vallejo.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
Always remember where your point of light is coming from.
How has social media helped your career?
Facebook has helped. When I started painting again at the beginning of lockdown I posted all of my work on Facebook and as a result I received an offer to illustrate my first book. It was challenging at first, but I learned a lot from it, without Facebook, nobody would have seen my work.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Classic horror and sci-fi movies posters from the 50’s to the 90s, the artists HR Giger, Boris Vallejo, and a huge inspiration for me when I was younger Tony Hart.
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product & why?
I like the FW refillable markers
What is a technique that you haven't tried yet that you would love to try & why?
I would love to learn gilding
Who would you like to do a commission for and why?
I would love to do a commission for a sci-fi horror movie/comic store
What has been your favourite commission to date and why?
A painting for my father of our lady of Guadalupe, it was completely different from my normal kind of work.
What has been your favourite exhibition/art trade fair that you have exhibited at and why?
I haven’t exhibited yet but I have seen the reactions of customers of some of the show fronts that I painted in my early 20s which was quite fulfilling.
What is a typical day in the life of an artist?
If I’m bored I’ll doodle on my iPad using procreate.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
Growing up in my father and uncles zoo and amusement park in the 70s and early 80’s, I used to sit and watch my dad‘s ride art is/decorator William Smee (who was also a clown for Chipperfield Circus when he wasn’t working for them painting animals on show fronts) work during the winter months.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
I’ve always been a fan of pop art, brightly coloured images and artists like H Giger and Boris Vallejo.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Products Used
FW Acrylic Ink
System3 Original Acrylic Paint
Artists’ Stretched Canvas
System3 Acrylic Brush
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Inks
FW Acrylic Ink
FW Acrylic Inks are pigmented, water-resistant artists’ inks known for their high lightfastness and excellent intermixability. They can be used straight from the bottle with the included dropper, applied with a brush or airbrush, or diluted to create subtle washes. This versatility allows artists to explore a wide range of techniques, from detailed line work […]LEARN MORE -
Acrylics
System3 Original Acrylic Paint
System3 Original Acrylic paints are versatile, water-based acrylics formulated with high-quality pigments for superior colour intensity and excellent lightfastness. Their soft body consistency makes them ideal for covering large areas while maintaining quick drying times and strong adhesion. With impressive permanence (most colours rated 3 to 4 stars) and flexibility, these paints are suitable for […]LEARN MORE -
Canvases
Artists’ Stretched Canvas
The Artists’ Stretched Canvas is crafted from superior-quality, heavyweight 400gsm, acid-free, 100% cotton with a medium grain surface. It is triple-primed to provide a ready-to-use painting surface ideal for both oils and acrylics, ensuring excellent paint adhesion while preventing seepage through to the reverse. The canvas is stretched over a heavy wooden frame, reinforced with […]LEARN MORE -
Brushes
System3 Acrylic Brush
The System3 Synthetic brushes are designed for acrylics, combining durability and precision. The range includes versatile shapes like Angle Shader for fine shading, Filbert for curved areas and washes, Script for delicate details, Round for general use, and Flat and Skyflow for broad strokes and large washes. Each brush features resilient synthetic filaments and ergonomic […]LEARN MORE
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