Sir Kyffin Williams RA OBE

Kyffin Williams was born on Anglesey, North Wales, in 1918.  He attended Shrewsbury School and after being recommended to take up art for the sake of his health, he went to study at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1941-1944.

Following this, he became the Senior Art Master at Highgate School, London, a position he held from 1944 to 1973.  During his time at Highgate, Kyffin found himself painting works of art inspired by the immediate world around him.  This created a period of work of still lifes and interiors, echoing his life long love of Van Gogh.

After 1973, he returned to live and work in his native North Wales.  Since then, Kyffin Williams has become known as an artist who took Wales and her people as his inspiration.  In remaining true to subjects offered by his native land, he has undoubtedly made a unique contribution to the tradition of British landscape painting, and has become the adopted father of contemporary Welsh art. 

Kyffin Williams received many Honours, which acknowledge both his own outstanding work and the generosity he has shown towards other artists.  The University of Wales, the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorian and the Contemporary Art Society of Wales are all among bodies who have conferred Honours on him.  He was a senior Royal Academician, and the President of the Royal Cambrian Academy for many years.  In 1982 he was Awarded an O.B.E. for Services to the Arts, and in the New Year Honours list 2000, Kyffin was given a Knighthood by Her Majesty the Queen. 

During his career, Kyffin exhibited with Thackeray Gallery for over forty years, with bi-annual solo exhibitions, continuing until his death in 2006.   In April 2007, Thackeray Gallery held a Memorial Retrospective Exhibition, to honour and pay thanks to Kyffin’s life and work.

We continue to represent his work today.