Sorrell was born and brought up in a wholly artistic family, his father being Alan Sorrell, draughtsman and painter and his mother the watercolourist Elizabeth Sorrell. He studied first at the Walthamstow Art School and the Kingston College of Art before completing a Post Graduate Course at the RA Schools in 1972, where he also received Silver and Bronze Medals. Three years later he was elected to the RWS, and then became Vice-President 2002-5, and President 2006-9.

His work has been hung in the RA summer exhibitions since 1971, and his list of exhibitions is long and distinguished by its breadth, having exhibited in the USA, in the Society exhibitions to which he belongs, and throughout the country. His work is also in numerous public collections including the V&A, The National Trust, Museum of London, St Nicholas Abbey (Barbados) amongst others.

Richard Sorrell and his wife have recently (2008-9) established their home and Cornish studio at Gulval near Penzance.