john elwyn (1916-1997)

John Elwyn Davies (John Elwyn) born in Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn, Cardiganshire on 20 November 1916.

Elwyn studied at Camarthen Art School and later attended the Royal College of Art 1937-38 & 1946-47. He was awarded the Diploma Prize and College prize for life drawing and first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1948.

Elwyn taught at the Portsmouth College of Art until 1953 subsequently moving to Winchester where he taught at the School of Art. The Neo-Romantic style was an early influence on Elwyn notably the works of Graham Sutherland and his Pembrokeshire landscapes.

Whereas fellow Welshman Kyffin Williams is famed for representing the rugged and sparsely populated mountainous landscape of north Wales, John Elwyn celebrates the people and gentler hills of the rural west. His style and subjects varied over time even including some semi-abstract works however, he inevitably returned to “representing the landscapes of West Wales” which became his major subject.

Exhibitions have included one man shows at the prestigious Leicester Galleries, London 1965 & 1969.

His work is held in many public collections including National Library of Wales, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff; University of Wales, Welsh Arts Council, Tate Gallery, Contemporary Arts Society of Wales, North Wales Arts Association and Leeds University.