Bull terrier aficionado and “Martin Scorsese of painting” Ray Richardson is inviting art lovers to come and see London’s Top Dog in Greenwich.

The latest exhibition at Ben Oakley Gallery features a collection of the Woolwich-born artist’s finest oil paintings to date, which were created especially for the show.

On view for the first time will also be a series of lithographs produced exclusively by Goldsmiths graduate Richardson and Lee Turner, Master Printer from Hole Editions in Newcastle.

Turner, who has worked with George Shaw and Richard Wright among others, collaborated with Richardson to produce A Bakers Dozen - 13 A6 gems to be offered at pre published prices throughout the exhibition.

These are being presented as a set or individually.

There is always a consistent depth of quality and strong narrative to Richardson’s work as he effortlessly carries on the mantle and tradition of great British painters.

London’s Top Dog will be on display at the Turnpin Lane venue until Sunday June 3.

The gallery is free to enter and open from Thursdays to Sundays between 11am and 6pm.

Between Mondays and Wednesdays it is open by appointment only.

Visit benoakleygallery.com

Vibe caught up with Ray Richardson this week

Do you have an English Bull Terrier?

I nearly had one a few years back but I've got pals who have them.

I'm on the lookout for one just now - trying to find a rescue one.

Which artist dead or alive would you like to sit down and have chat with most?

Too many but for when less is more Velázquez.

I would ask him, as I heard once mentioned about Al Green, how did you get away with that for so long?

When you realise you can only paint like yourself at last and you won't be as good as your heroes, that feels alright.

Take us through a typical Ray Richardson working day.

Moon walking at dawn, plenty of lotion on my back and out the door, bit of work with the old felt tips, cycle back home past the Woolwich Astrodome in time for Countdown versus my wife and then after a fine tea and some mind-bending laughter - bed and do it all again next day.

What other creative avenues would you like to explore?

Film without a doubt - I've had writers, filmmakers, other artists and all sorts asking me when I'm going to make a film for years now.

I have a load of ideas but no idea how to pull them all together.

That’s the painter thing though where you're always fighting with yourself and trying to sort it all out on your own, so working with other people could be very liberating I think.

Do you think computerised artworks have the same feel as traditional paintings?

No comparison if you mean ‘feel’ in the sense of physically making it.

There’s plenty of good and s*** in all forms or mediums to be honest.

If you mean ‘feel’ as in soul, then it depends in whose hands it's in as with anything.

Does collaborating with another artist on one piece interest you and who would you choose?

I've collaborated with other artists on shows before (Mark Hampson in Tokyo a couple of times) but not on a piece with him.

I've worked with some great printmakers who are all artists in their own right over the years.

Artist David Bray recently suggested over a pipe-charged moment to do a piece together with this engraving thing he just got from a boot fair which I do find compelling.

What is the highest honour to be bestowed as an artist?

When you're a feted YBA (Young British Artists) I guess you must be laughing, but being called the Martin Scorsese of painting in GQ is more than ok for me and maybe that’s as good as it gets so I'll take that.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Fantasy Island