Raoul Coombes
My painting practice has changed over the past few years. I am now painting subject matter that most accurately reflects issues that are of importance to me, including people, dreams and current issues such as racism, bigotry and climate change. I feel that the things in my life that I have witnessed are important to depict, such as important memories, especially of my time as a cancer doctor.
I have been an academic doctor for many years, teaching and researching, but I have been continually engaged in artistic pursuits all my life. I am a member of The Chelsea Arts Club, and I have attended (part time) The School of Landscape Painting for over 4 years where I learnt watercolour painting and I am a member of the London Watercolour Group. I have also attended Heatherleys School of Art Part time for 4 years (life drawing) as well as The Morley College Course for Advanced Painting for 2 years. For several years I focussed on painting in watercolour, which was new for me, having always used acrylics or oils. Subsequently, for much of the following 5 years I have been painting exclusively in oil paints before, two years ago, returning to work in acrylics.