Raymond is a past participant in the Rosetta Arts’ Artist Accelerator scheme. Raymond was born into a frenetic household, as the last of 8 children, in the East End of London spending most of his days in the garden exploring the plants and wildlife. He recollects spending long hours gazing into the sky and venturing into the nearby Wanstead Flats, a large dedicated parkland in Epping Forest.
Raymond’s curiosity for nature was inspired by his early musings where he spent many hours alone drawing and exploring. His artwork often references nature consciously and subconsciously. He finds enrichment through investigation, research, art endeavour and collaboration; creating a catalyst for new dialogue and inspiration. He graduated from the University of East London where he received a BA Hons Degree in Visual Theories (Art History & Criticism).
He is a multidisciplinary artist working in paint, collage, drawing, mix media and photography. He creates figurative and semi abstract work which is an exploration in colour, form, texture and composition. Raymond is enamoured by the ubiquity of power and the search for it, the force for change in relation to its value and of the abject or inferior. He is also interested in how juxtaposition alludes to power or elevation and the adverse affects of disempowerment and subjugation. His current paintings examine the depiction of women, and power in relation to women. He is currently working on a series of collages created in response to the current events such as the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.
Raymond said upon receiving a place on the 2022 Artists Accelerator programme:
“The longstanding relationship of Rosetta Arts in Newham and its unique presence within the area has played an invaluable role in my artist journey. I hope that my experience and artistic endeavour whilst on the programme will further enrich the community and prove a lasting testament to the power of art as an expressive and cohesive force for change.”
