Colin Jones (1928 – 1967) was 38 years old when he died. Described as one of the most promising artists of his generation, his work is represented in all the major public collections in Wales. A decade before his death he converted to Catholicism; he was deeply proud of his Welsh roots and was a passionate Francophile. These three facets of his life were major influences in his work.
Most well known as a painter, his bold, arguably brutal depictions of the South Wales valleys are his most powerful legacy. ‘Pithead Funeral’, a response to the Aberfan disaster that affected him so deeply, stands out amongst his work together with ‘Fallen Figure’. Also the series of miner’s paintings produced following the week he spent sketching underground in a Welsh coal mine. In sharp contrast are the paintings and drawings produced as a result of the considerable time he spent in the Languedoc region of France.
His pictures have been widely exhibited throughout England and Wales both during his lifetime and also in recent years. Where it not for the accident that ended his life, Colin Jones’ work would today be widely known throughout the UK and probably further afield.
