Kyffin Williams


Sir Kyffin Williams RA (born 9 May 1918) is a Welsh landscape painter who lives in Menai Bridge on the Island of Anglesey. His works appear in many private and public collections.

According to BBC North West Wales Sir Kyffin Williams was considered by many to be one of the most popular artists in Wales.

He was born into an old landed Anglesey . After failing the British Army medical examination in 1941, doctors advised him to become an artist, and so began the career of one of Wales’ most prolific artists.

Despite academic difficulties, Sir Kyffin enrolled at London’s Slade School of Fine Art in 1941 and taught art at Highgate School, London. In 1968 he won a scholarship to study and paint those of Welsh descent in Patagonia.

His work is on display in many galleries all over Britain and is on permanent exhibition in Oriel Ynys Môn, Anglesey. Sir Kyffin is President of the Royal Cambrian Academy and a member of the Royal Academy.

Williams was President of the Royal Cambrian Academy from 1969 to 1976, and again from 1992. He was made an Honorary Fellow of University College, Swansea (1989), University College, Bangor (1991) and University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1992). In 1991 he received the Medal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. In 1995 Sir Kyffin received the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales during the Machynlleth Festival.

He died on September 1, 2006, aged 88, at a nursing home in Anglesey after a long battle with cancer.

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