J. Richard Plincke was educated at Stowe, where his interest in the Art School provided a foundation for his future work as an artist as well as setting him on course for his career as an architect. This began with his training at the Architectural Association in London, and culminated in his becoming a partner in the architectural practice of Plincke, Leaman and Browning in the Square, Winchester. He has also studied experimental abstract painting at the Department of Fine Art, Southampton Institute of Higher Education.

His approach to painting has evolved over the years and his style has attained a level of expression that evokes freshness of atmosphere, and sometimes the activity and excitement of the scenes of the ideas depicted. Richard works largely in watercolour and acrylic, but his use of other media such as oil pastel and sprayed enamel enhance these effects. More recently these have led to the use of stronger colours in a very personal interpretation of our surroundings, as well as an excursion into semi-abstract work.

Richard was elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1984. He was previously runner-up for the Bronze Medal for two consecutive years and short listed for the Hunting Prize for the Watercolour of the year. He has exhibited with the RI, the RA and the Royal Society of Marine Artists as well as in numerous galleries around England. He has also had several one-man shows.