William Selwyn (b. 1933)

David Grosvenor (b. 1956)

‘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.

‘The Path’

Oil on Panel - 10” x 22” - 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.