Wonderful Wales

Wonderful Wales

Wales has, for a long time now, been a muse for many artists across the world. Though no one quite captures it like it’s residents. We have curated a wonderful collection of Welsh artists we currently have in our acquisitions for you to enjoy and be tempted by.

We are holding an exhibition opening in the gallery on Saturday 4th February from 10am to 4pm - including delicious Welsh nibbles and drinks from the famous Callaghan’s Artisan Bar. If you would like to join please RSVP by calling a member of the team at the gallery.

All pieces under £12,000

David Barnes (1942 - 2021)

works by:

David Grosvenor (b. 1956)

Wilf Roberts (1941 - 2016)

William Selwyn (b. 1933)

Charles Wyatt Warren (1908 - 1993)

Sir Kyffin Williams (1918 - 2006)

‘Wonderful Wales’ - exhibiting some of Wales’ greatest talents from the 20th century to now.

David Barnes (1942 - 2021)

Barnes was born in Africa and spent his early childhood there. When he returned to the UK he qualified as a chartered accountant and spent most of his working life in professional practice. Although Barnes enjoyed art at school and had been a collector for many years, it was not until he retired from the educational world in 2006 that he began to paint seriously. Nevertheless, he progressed quickly, earning rapid success after spending many tireless hours in the studio. His earliest days painting were very much shaped by the goal of emulating Sir Kyffin Williams.

David was fascinated by his brooding landscapes and the somber colours so evident in his works.

The inspiration for much of Barnes’ works were the mountains of Snowdonia and the coastline of North Wales and Anglesey. He loved to capture the dark brooding atmospheric landscapes with a palette knife, painting in oils and using a thick impasot technique to produce bold strokes and add strength and texture to his paintings.

David Grosvenor (b. 1956)

Born in 1956 in Essex, Grosvenor moved to North Wales in 1991 to dedicate his time to painting full-time. He enjoys painting in both watercolour and oil - depicting a wide range of subject matter including the stunning scenery of Snowdonia and colourful still life and garden scenes. Despite his prolific work rate, Grosvenor manages to make each one an individual with its own particular magic. This sheer profusion of images is in itself a tribute to the landscape which changes dramatically from day to day, minute to minute. His paintings are in collections world-wide, including The House of Lords Collection, Palace of Westminster.

In his own words, Grosvenor describes his work: “Drawing and painting have always been a part of my life and I get enormous pleasure and fulfilment from manipulating pencil and paint on paper and canvas. Whilst form is important to me, it is colour which sets my heart alight and I can well understand those who argue that colour therapy has the power to heal, calm or excite.”

Will Roberts (1907 - 2000)

‘Red Barn’

Acrylic on Canvas - 23” x 30” - Signed

Donald McIntyre (1923 - 2009)

Born in 1923 in Yorkshire but brought up in North West Scotland, Donald Mclntyre studied at the Glasgow School of Art under James Wright At Garelochhead. He has exhibited at the London Galleries, Royal Cambrian Academy, Galleries Racines Brussels, Fosse Gallery and Thackery Gallery. His subjects include Scottish and Welsh landscapes in a strong postimpressionist style which shows the influence of 20th century Scottish artists from Cadell through to Redpath and Philipson and Michie. His paintings are in the collections of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, Wiliamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, Newport Art Gallery, Merthyr Tydfil Art Gallery, Welsh Arts Council, National Library of Wales, Welsh Contemporary Art Society, Anglesey and Caernarvonshire Education Authorities, University of Wales, Department of the Environment, London, British Steel Company, U.S.A. Embassy, London And London University.

‘Bwrhn Ar Bryan’

Acrylic on Paper -21” x 35½” - Signed

‘Seaside Meetings’

Acrylic on Paper - 16” x 12” - Signed

‘Farmhouse Dwelling’

Acrylic on Paper - 18½” x 31½” - Signed

Wilf Roberts (1941 - 2016)

‘Y Garn,

8” x 8” - Oil on Panel - Signed,

Glyferau’

Born in 1941, Roberts was raised in the Mynydd Bodafon area of Anglesey - where he lived until the age of 21 when he moved to Croydon. He began teaching art and studied part time at Croydon Art College. In 1974 he then returned to Anglesey to work in Local Government and Education and although he was not exhibiting for many years he continued to paint, donating work, illustraiting and designing posters for national charities. In 1996 he finally retired to devote his time to painting - his true passion!

His interest in painting and drawing was always an integral part of his life. The viewer gets a true sense of the real appreciation he had for his surroundings within his home country. Although seemingly simple, the rugged cliffs and atmospheric cottage views evoke a real sense of Wales’ climate.

William Selwyn (b. 1933)

‘Moelfre’

Watercolour on Paper - 16” x 23” - Signed

William Selwyn was born in Caernarfon in 1933. After completing National Service in the Royal Artillery, he studied at Bangor Normal College between 1954 and 1956. He subsequently taught Art at Maesincla Junior School and at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen. Since his retirement from teaching in 1990 he has devoted himself to painting full time, becoming particularly noted for his watercolours and mixed media works. His art is centred on the landscape and coastline of Gwynedd, its farm workers and fishermen.

Charles Wyatt Warren (1908 - 1993)

Charles Wyatt Warren was a 20th Century welsh landscape artist born in Caernarfon. He attended London University after his time at school before beginging a career with Caernarfon County Council. He began painting as a hobby, but became remarkably prolific, producing 20-40 paintings a year. He worked incredbly fast! His work focused primarly on the Snowdonian Landscapes and was a founding member of the North Wales Group and the Caernarfon School of Welsh Landscape painters. His earlier works demonstrate a more classical style, often featuring intricate details of Silver Birch trees - highlighting his technical painting ability. Towards the 70’s and 80’s, his work began to evolve to a looser more impressionistic style. He would utilise a palette knife to create sculpted impasto. His work is recognisable for its wild depicition of nature, often mountainous and frequently depicting a solitary dwelling.

‘On the Lake Shore’ Oil on Panel - 12” x 30” - Signed

‘The Path’

Oil on Panel - 10” x 22” - Signed

‘Anglesey’ - Oil on Panel - 8” x 14” - Signed

Above all, Warren had a particular gift for conveying the atmosphere of a place. He caught in his work the swiftly changing hues of mountains and lakes. The light cast on whitewashed cottages before a storm, the craggy bleakness of mountain terrain. Warren never became complacent and worked tirelessly each day either in his studio or out and about in the hills. He had the greatest ability to observe, and would often take his teenage daughter with him to sketch as he painted. He held over 50 solo shows in his lifetime, mainly in the UK but also often in North America, Canada and notably in 1960 at the London Welsh.

A further 25 works available in the collection - the largest in the UK!

Benjamin Williams Leader (1831 - 1923)

Benjamin Williams Leader was born in Worcester as the third of eleven children to notable civil engineer Edward Leader Williams. His father was a keen amateur artist - a friend of John Constable - and Benjamin would often acompnay him on sketching trips along the banks of the River Severn.

Leader was educated at the Royal Grammer School, Worcester, and initially worked at his father’s office as a draughtsman while studying art in the evenings at the Worcester School of Design. In his free time he also did a lot of painting en plein air of Welsh Landscapes close to the border.

At age 23 he was admitted as a student to the Royal Academy Schools in London and, unsually, in his first year had a picture accepted to exhibition there - Cottage Children Blowing Bubbles. This was subsequently sold to an American buyer for £50 in 1854. Later, Leader’s work appeared in every summer exhibition at the academy until 1922 when he was 91 years old. He was greatly inspired by the countryside, he found “cottages, farmhouses, lanes, hedgrows and churches so exceedingly picturesque and beautiful”.

Sir Kyffin Williams (1918 - 2006)

Born in Llangefni, Anglesey, Sir Kyffin Williams left Shrewsbury School to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1938. Williams was discharged in 1941 on account of being diagnosed with Epilepsy and was advised to adapt to a new career by his doctor. Williams soon turned to art and attended the Slade School of Fine Art between 1941 and 1944. He went on to teach for a period after completing his studies, however, in 1973 Wales called and Williams returned to his beloved Anglesey, purchasing a house overlooking the Menai Strait.

This move confirmed Williams’ reputation as a painter of the Welsh people and their landscapes. He emersed himself in the Welsh community he lived in and spent most of his time outdoors painting en plein air.

Throughout his lifetime Williams was rewarded with many great honours, including a knighthood in 1999 for his services to the arts. Williams played a huge role in contemporary arts and has been viewed by many to be the first artist to truly connect with the Welsh people. Today his reputation has extended far beyond Wales.

‘Man with Sickle’

Watercolour on Paper14” x 19½”Signed

‘Barmouth Bridge’

Watercolour on Paper - 8” x 13” - Signed

‘Bringing in the Days Catch’

Watercolour on Paper - 8” x 13” - Signed