Escape, No. 7

Escape, No. 7 is an emotional study of transition — the quiet call to break free and evolve. This work reflects a state of becoming, and the moment one begins to answer that call.

Layered marks create a network of pathways — structured yet imperfect, ordered yet shifting, broken yet beautiful. Within the surface, small openings remain: places where movement can begin, where escape is possible, where change starts quietly before it becomes undeniable.

Soft neutral tones with subtle violets and muted purples create calm balance while still hinting at momentum beneath the surface. The piece invites reflection, stillness, and the understanding that growth doesn’t require rushing — only readiness.

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Shannon Riches is an abstract expressionist artist based on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. With a 30-year background in graphic design and illustration, his work now centres on intuitive mark-making and tonal exploration inspired by the coastline and the Dandenong Ranges.
His process is tactile and instinctive — often painting with his hands, bark and found natural materials alongside traditional brushes to build layered, organic surfaces. Shannon also produces music under the name Approaching Black, and sees both practices as expressions of the same language — composition, tone and atmosphere.
His paintings are created to feel lived-in and emotionally grounded — artworks that belong in real spaces, quietly shaping the story of the room.