Kunstner
Født i Newport, United Kingdom
Early Life and Theatrical Beginnings
Born: June 11, 1951, Newport, United Kingdom
Attended Hartridge Comprehensive School in Newport before moving to the Italia Conti School in London.
Studied theatre, worked as an actor in films and television, and took classes at the Rambert Ballet School.
Early career involved performance and puppetry with Cardiff’s Caricature Theatre.
Worked extensively as a choreographer, director, and stage designer for various companies including the Vienna Festival, Almeida Theatre, and Theatr Clwyd. Served as Associate Director at Cardiff New Theatre.
Transition to Visual Arts and Artistic Style
Shifted focus to visual arts in the 1990s after a prolific career in theatre.
Works primarily through painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, maquettes, animation, and artist’s books.
Artistic style characterized by narrative paintings often exploring Welsh folklore, religious stories, and themes of solitude and place.
Influenced by British mid-twentieth neo-romanticism; landscapes frequently serve as emotionally charged backdrops in his work.
Critics have described his work as "reflective, expressive painting of the highest order."
Major Themes and Series
The Mari Lwyd Series: Explores childhood fears inspired by Welsh folk traditions.
The Temptations of Solitude: Examines contemporary traumas and injustices through the lens of the Desert Fathers of Egypt.
Saints and Animals Series: Features stories of saints alongside animals, such as St. Kevin and the blackbird, Elijah and the raven, Hervé and the wolf, and St. Francis preaching to the birds.
Biblical Paintings: Includes works like "The Annunciation" (Llandaff Cathedral) and a depiction of “The Woman Taken in Adultery.”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Series: A significant body of work, including screenprints created in collaboration with Penfold Press, illustrating Simon Armitage’s translation.
Recognition and Collections
Paintings are represented in all major public collections in Wales and other UK institutions.
Artist's books found in libraries internationally.
Retrospective exhibition held at the National Library of Wales in 2011 to celebrate his sixtieth birthday.
Substantial monograph published by Lund Humphries in 2011, highlighting his career and contributions.
Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University School of Art.
Member of The Welsh Group and 56 Group Wales.
Works held in numerous public and private collections including the National Museum of Wales, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, and Methodist Collection of Modern Christian Art.
Recent Developments and Collaborations
Regularly discusses his methods through an "Artlog" series since 2010.
Collaborated with composer Mark Bowden and poet Damian Walford Davies on The Mare's Tale, a staged performance and chamber consort work.
Directed and designed Hansel & Gretel: A Nightmare in Eight Scenes with music by Matthew Kaner and a libretto by Simon Armitage, touring extensively.
Continued collaboration with Penfold Press on artist’s books.
