Srirangam Mohankumar RSMA

From his childhood in India to his maturity in England he has had a fascination and possibly an obsession with drawing and painting.  He feels the need whether at home or abroad to take every opportunity to go outside and capture images, seascapes, landscapes and urban scenes which offer a never ending source of inspiration. The fleeting nature of light outside demands a directness of application and as a result his studies have to be completed in minutes rather than hours. Every moment of observation and execution is a learning process. 

His particular specialisation has been in watercolour painting.   In this area he shows an instinctive mastery of skill and economy which was soon recognised, appreciated and rewarded in the academic world.  Kumar uses a direct technique which has been compared to that of Winslow Homer after a recent annual marine exhibition at the Mall Gallery.   His choice of subject matter is varied and includes the international locations in which he has observed light, colour and movement.  

Back in his studio he uses sketches to complete imaginative and progressive compositions and endeavours to retain the immediacy of direct study.  

He has exhibited in various UK galleries and his reputation as a leading watercolourist is now well established.   Over the years he has been inspired by painters of the past notably John Singer-Sargeant, Edward Seago, Joaquin Sorolla, Issac Levitan and John Yardley.

He is a member of the Federation of British Artists, the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA), the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists (EAGMA) and was recently chosen as a candidate for membership at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (Mall Gallery 2025).  His paintings have been recognised as worthy of prizes and awards from various bodies which include the following: 

• A prestigious Charles Pears Award by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• A Classic Boat Award by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• Marine Quarterly Sea from Seaward prize by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• Winner of the Winning Artist Exhibition at the Mall Gallery chosen by Anthony J Lester
• Artist of the Year (Artist Illustrator Magazine)
• 100th President of Lytham Art Society and subsequently made patron of the society

His work is found in private and corporate collections around the world including the Baltic Exchange

Tutor at Dedham Hall annual residential painting course