Loveday Belgravia proudly hosted From Foundations to Fine Art, the debut exhibition by globally respected construction industry leader, Richard Thorpe. After a career delivering some of the world’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, including the London 2012 Olympic venues, Birmingham New Street Station, and NEOM’s Trojena Programme, Richard unveiled a deeply personal new chapter as an artist.
The exhibition marked a powerful transition from shaping the physical world to expressing inner experiences through paint, memory and emotion. “Art found me later in life,” Richard explained. “After years of designing structures, I discovered a passion for conveying reflections, places and feelings through colour and form.”
The exhibition’s location was especially meaningful. Loveday Belgravia sits beside Chelsea Barracks, a landmark £1.2bn development which Richard led as Programme Director. Many attendees were former colleagues, making the event both a reunion and a celebration of reinvention.
Richard’s work drew inspiration from the dramatic mountain landscapes of Saudi Arabia, memories of global travel, and the structural language of architecture. Each piece reflected a fusion of storytelling, artistic exploration and professional legacy, offering both intimacy and scale.
Loveday Belgravia, renowned for promoting creativity in all life stages, provided the perfect setting. “This exhibition embodies our philosophy of purposeful living and lifelong inspiration,” said Mark Chakravarti, Executive General Manager.
From Foundations to Fine Art not only showcased Richard’s remarkable evolution, but also connected diverse communities, from construction and design professionals to Loveday Members, through shared appreciation of creativity and human expression. It stood as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to begin again, and that legacy can be built not just in stone and steel, but in brushstrokes and stories that endure.
