Richard Austin is a former art editor and graphic designer for Montréal advertising studios and tabloid newspapers as well as a Canadian indie-filmmaker, painter and photographer. As a filmmaker, Richard created music videos and short films, including At Last..., a dramatic story about the reunion of two long-estranged sisters, and Heather Crowe’s Legacy, a documentary about one individual making a difference by galvanizing political and public health efforts to change Canadian legislation on smoking. 

Richard studied photography and fine art in Toronto (Toronto School of Art), Montréal (Dawson College), and Ottawa (The School for Photographic Arts). He has published with Thou Art That Publishing several visual arts and biography books and exhibited paintings and photographic images internationally. Richard is currently director of visual arts for Centre des arts La Fab sur Mill arts centre, 

a regional visual and performing arts cultural hub in Chelsea, Québec.

“Richard’s paintings have a spontaneous, animated quality binding strong contours and shapes within a colourful, tonal palette.”

Focus Magazine

BIOGRAPHY

Gallery exhibitions: 

2024, 2023 

     Chelsea / Wakefield Artists Studio Tour (group)

2022

     La Fab sur Mill Arts Centre (group) – Chelsea, QC

2021

     Gallery Old Chelsea (solo) – Chelsea, QC

      La Fab Arts Centre (group – Chelsea, QC

      Chelsea / Wakefield Artists Studio Tour (group) – Chelsea, QC

2020

      La Fab Arts Centre (solo) – Chelsea, QC

       Artprior Gallery (group) – Arnprior, ON

      Chelsea / Wakefield Artists Studio Tour (group) – Chelsea, QC

2019

      La Fab Arts Centre (group) – Chelsea, QC

      Orange Contemporary Art Gallery (group) – Ottawa, QC

      Ottawa Little Theatre Gallery (group) – Ottawa, ON

      University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine Art Gallery (group) – 

      Ottawa, ON

2018

      Ottawa Little Theatre Gallery (group) – Ottawa, ON

      Exposure Visual Arts and Architecture Gallery (group) – 

      Ottawa, ON

      La Petite Mort Contemporary Art Gallery (solo)– Ottawa, ON

2012

      Cube Gallery (group) – Ottawa, ON

      Exposure Visual Arts + Architecture Gallery (group)– Ottawa, 

      ON

2011

      Languages of Life 31st Annual Art Exhibit (group) – Ottawa, ON

1993

      Park Hotel Apartments Gallery (group) – Sydney, Australia

1992

      New World Harbour View Hotel Wanchai Gallery (group) – 

      Hong Kong

1992

      Westmount City Hall Gallery (solo) – Montréal, QC

1987

      Galerie Zazou (group) – Montréal, QC

Film direction:

2013

      Isa – Christiane Claude and CC Club, 4 min. music video

      Night Time – Sister Hyde, 4 min. music

2006 

      Heather Crowe’s Legacy – 25 min. documentary

      At Last... – 28 min. drama

2005

      Celebrating Public Health – 3 min. Health Canada public service 

        announcement

      Making a difference for children of the world – 6 min. Health 

      Canada public service announcement)

      Help is at your fingertips – 6 min. Health Canada public service 

      announcement)

Published books and portfolios:

2014

      1969 Once upon a time in Montréal

      Encounters

2011

      Shadows + Light

      Lost

Art experiences:

2018

      School of Photographic Arts  A+ Competition; Analogue 

       category award – Ottawa, ON

2017

      School of Photographic Art A+ Competition; Printed book  

      category award, third place award prize – Ottawa, ON

2010

      Epson International Photographic Competition; Bronze award

2008

      Bokeh - Photographers Annual portfolio and essay feature

2007

      Focus Magazine Fine Art Magazine; Portfolio and essay 

      feature

1986

      Syllabic font design - Cree Communications Society, 

      Chisasibi, QC

1989 - 1994

      Apple Certified Software Developer