Richard Flynn was born in Northumberland, England. A county with a strong tradition in the visual arts since the industrial revolution. Following graduation from the Newcastle College of Art 1970, Flynn began a series of drawings of fishing, mining and market communities in the North of England.

After a six month residency on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, 1975 Flynn was awarded a 3 1/2 year artist in residence position in 1978. This culminated in a successful solo show at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne and a BBC, Look North film of the exhibition. 1979

In 1985 Flynn was employed in the Newcastle upon Tyne schools Real Connection, artist in residence program with a Laing Art Gallery exhibition in 1987. This led to an appointment as Artist on the Quayside recording and exhibiting the Tyne river development with local schools.

A farewell exhibition of over 50 paintings organised by the Northern Arts Council was held at Seaton Delaval Hall prior to Flynn’s emigration with his family to Cambridge-Narrows, New Brunswick

On the property Flynn built a studio and gallery, developing gardens, ponds and shoreline of the Washademoak as subject matter. Since arrival his mobile studio on wheels has been installed in various locations, facilitating a series of paintings, including the edge of a beaver pond and a hockey rink.

Artist-in-residence positions in Canada include, Rothesay Netherwood School, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Quebec 400 Anniversary and FAVA, visual art festival in Caraquet.

He has been a cultural representative with New Brunswick Tourism projects including Quebec, New York City and San Francisco.

Beaverbrook Art Gallery exhibitions include 2 McCaine’s Exhibitions, the solo show Crafting Fire 1995. Installations in the Salvador Dali Centenary exhibition, Wolastoq/Beautiful River and the solo show Dudley Miners in 2020.

Richard Flynn’s paintings are in many public, corporate and private collections on both sides of the Atlantic.