Richard graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 2003 and worked in general practice before undertaking an internship in ophthalmology at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. Following this he undertook a three-year ECVO-approved residency in comparative ophthalmology at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College. Following the successful completion of his training, Richard remained at the RVC as a clinician for a further year before joining North Downs Specialist Referrals, a large multidisciplinary referral hospital in the southeast of England, in July 2018. He became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in March 2019 after passing the qualifying examinations.