From his childhood in India to his maturity in England he has had a fascination, and possibly an obsession, with drawing and painting.

He feels the need, at home or abroad, to take every opportunity to go outside and capture images, seascapes, landscapes and urban scenes as they offer a never-ending source of inspiration. The fleeting nature of light outside, demands a directness of application, and Kumar knows that moment has to be captured in his initial sketches in minutes. Every moment of observation and execution is a learning process.
His specialism is painting in watercolour. In this area he shows an instinctive mastery of skill and economy. This was soon recognised, appreciated and rewarded in the academic world. Kumar uses a direct technique which has been compared to that of Winslow Homer after a recent annual marine exhibition at the Mall Gallery, London. His choice of subject matter is varied and includes national and international locations in which he has observed light, colour and movement.

Back in his studio he uses his sketches to complete imaginative and progressive compositions and endeavours to retain the immediacy of direct study.

He has exhibited in various UK galleries and his reputation as a leading watercolourist is now well established. Over the years he has been inspired by painters of the past notably John Singer-Sargeant, Edward Seago, Joaquin Sorolla, Issac Levitan and John Yardley.

He is a member of the Federation of British Artists, the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA), the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists (EAGMA) and was recently chosen as a candidate for membership at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (Mall Gallery 2025). His paintings have been recognised as worthy of prizes and awards from various bodies which include the following:

• A prestigious Charles Pears Award by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• A Classic Boat Award by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• Marine Quarterly Sea from Seaward prize by the Royal Society of Marine Artists
• Winner of the Winning Artist Exhibition at the Mall Gallery chosen by Anthony J Lester
• Artist of the Year (Artist Illustrator Magazine)
• 100th President of Lytham Art Society and subsequently made patron of the society
• His work is found in private and corporate collections around the world including the Baltic Exchange
• Tutor at Dedham Hall annual residential painting course