Brian Ryder ROI FIEA (1944-2025)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend Brian Ryder who has been exhibiting his paintings in our galleries for many decades.

Brian will be deeply missed by all who were captivated by his love and understanding of the landscape, and by those who were to find inspiration from his teaching, tutorial videos and books.

An annual exhibitor with The Royal Institute of Oil Painters since 2008, Brian was elected as a full member in 2011. He felt privileged to serve on the ROl Council for six consecutive years.
In November 2024 Brian Ryder’s exhibition “40 going on 80” was staged at the Adrian Hill Fine Art Gallery in Holt.
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.

Brian was born on the 1st of December 1944 in Freeland, Oxfordshire.

He spent the greater majority of his working life in architect’s offices in London and the home counties before moving to East Anglia in 1987. In 1994 Brian, who had already taught painting and exhibited his work both in the UK and abroad, made the decision to paint full time.

Brian carried on with his tuition until 2011 and, following his election to the Royal Institute of Oil painters, concentrated on his own painting. He wrote four art books, released six art tuition DVD’s and is included in the most recent version of Who’s Who in Art.

“Although I enjoy painting the more traditional landscapes from life, I am not really interested in pure representation. I work mostly in my studio continually searching for that “one painting” which depicts my own recollection of the feel of the subject I saw at the time. The painting that evolves is a response to this feeling. The more I paint, the more I discover about what painting is all about.” Brian Ryder

In 2010 Brian had a collection of over 100 of his works published in a Halsgrove book entitled, “Painting Atmospheric Landscapes, Norfolk and Beyond” which detailed his early life and his art career, written by Adrian Hill.

The two saw further collaboration during 2011 in the forming of the Institute of East Anglian Artists (IEA) staging the inaugural exhibition in October 2012. He served at the first President of the Institute and was recognised as a Fellow for his valuable contribution.

Brian has worked with three generations of the Hill family.

He passed away in Norfolk, February 2025.