He’s painted actresses and archbishops, princes and politicians, boxing heroes and rugby stars and now Wales’ leading portrait artist has been honored for a collection said to help “define the way Welsh society will be viewed by future generations”.
David Griffiths, who grew up in Pwllheli and now lives in Cardiff, was recently presented with an honorary degree from the University of Wales. And handing it to him was someone else who had sat for him, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, who is also pro-chancellor of the University.
Paying tribute to his work, Dr Morgan said, “David Griffiths’ portraits have their own intrinsic value, but as a body of work representing the most important Welsh people of their time, they will surely contribute to defining the way that Welsh society will be viewed by future generations.”
Over the past 40 years, Mr Griffiths has persuaded most of the great and good of the nation to sit for him. They include Prince Charles, Lord Tonypandy, Bryn Terfel, Joe Calzaghe, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, actress Sian Phillips, rugby player Barry John and singer Sir Geraint Evans. Earlier this year he unveiled a new portrait of the Archbishop of Wales and he is currently working on a portrait of Rhodri Morgan, the recently retired First Minister of Wales, and Mervyn Jones, the vice-chancellor of Bangor University.
Mr Griffiths said, “It is both an honour and privilege to receive this award which, I would like to think, recognises the long and distinguished tradition of portrait painting in Wales. If it is also supportive of one’s efforts to maintain the highest standards of figurative art, then I hope it will be an encouragement to students to develop their own observational skills through portraiture.”
Educated at Pwllheli Grammar school, Griffiths trained at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. His career took off when he was chosen to paint Prince Charles receiving the freedom of the city of Cardiff in the year of his investiture.
