A Worcestershire artist, diagnosed with autism at the age of eight, has spoken of his astonishment and delight after Sir Richard Branson acquired one of his landscape paintings. Rhys Caldwell-Clarkson, from Malvern, described himself as "speechless" upon learning that the Virgin Group founder had been moved to purchase a piece of his art.
Sir Richard, who has openly shared his own experiences with dyslexia, became aware of Caldwell-Clarkson's work following a BBC report on his journey. Inspired by the artist's creativity and the narrative behind his business, 'Art on the Spectrum', Branson personally reached out with a video message, praising the artist's talent and congratulating him on establishing his platform.
Caldwell-Clarkson founded 'Art on the Spectrum' after making the decision to leave his previous employment in retail, which he found to be excessively overwhelming. This career change allowed him to rediscover and cultivate his profound love for art, leading him to create serene landscape paintings primarily inspired by the picturesque Worcestershire countryside.
In his video message to Caldwell-Clarkson, Sir Richard conveyed his admiration, stating, "I love your creativity and landscape paintings. I'm lucky enough to live by the sea and that's what keeps me calm. Your paintings are the most beautiful, calm things I've ever seen. So keep painting, keep dreaming and showing the world just what you can do." The artist was surprised with this message by BBC Hereford and Worcester.
The purchase by such a prominent figure has provided a significant boost to Caldwell-Clarkson's confidence and motivation to continue his artistic endeavours. The painting acquired by Sir Richard Branson is destined to be hung in one of the Virgin offices, offering broader visibility to the artist's work.