Kyffin Williams Collection

By The Kyffin Gallery

Sir Kyffin’s LifeWilliams was born in Llangefni, Angelsey on the 1st September 1918. He was educated at Moreton Hall School then Shrewsbury School before joining the 6th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers. After he failed a British Army medical examination in 1941 due to his epilepsy. He only took up art because the doctor advised him to saying it might help his health. Williams enrolled at London’s Slade school of Fine Art in 1941. He later taught at Highgate School where he was senior art master from 1944 – 1973. Williams Died on 1st September 2006 aged 88 at a nursing home in Angelsey. He had been suffering from lung cancer, believed to be a result of working with lead based paints.

Sir Kyffin WilliamsSir John ‘Kyffin’ Williams was a Welsh landscape painter often regarded as the defining artist of Wales during the 20th Century.

Life time AchievementsWilliams was the president of the Royal Cambrian Academy and was appointed a member of the Royal academy in 1974. In 1995 Williams was awarded the Glyndwr Award for outstanding contribution to the arts in Wales. Williams was also awarded the OBE for his services to the arts in 1982 and was further awarded with a KBE in 1999.

LegacyThe Oriel Kyffin Williams gallery opened in the summer of 2008. In 2009 the Kyffin Williams Drawing prize was established and is awarded to Welsh artists that show exceptional drawing skills.