Richard was born and raised in a working class family in the mining town of Doncaster, South Yorkshire in 1989. After secondary school he studied Acting at High Melton College in Doncaster, graduating in 2007. He then moved to London in 2010 to study Acting at 'The Poor School' he graduated from the school in January 2012 and went onto his first Feature Film 'The Knife That Killed Me', an adaptation of Anthony McGowans novel by the same name. He played one of the principle roles of Kirk.