Richard Bawden was the son of the well known artist, Edward Bawden, R.A. He studied painting, printmaking and graphic design at Chelsea, St Martin's and the Royal College of Art,
completing his studies in 1962. From 1963-85 he undertook commercial illustration and teaching before moving to Suffolk and becoming a full time painter and printmaker.
Bawden has work in several public collections including the V&A and Tate