John Elwyn ( 1916 – 1997) was born in Newcastle Emlyn, South Cardiganshire. He studied at Carmarthen Art School , Bristol College of Art and The Royal College of Art. He also taught at Portsmouth College of Art, 1948–53, then for many years at Winchester College of Art.
Elwyn was closely identified with the landscape of Cardiganshire and its people, notably groups emerging from chapel on a Sunday morning in Sunday-best and dark suits and bowler hats. He wrote that he “continued using figures until about 1962, then for about 10 years worked in a semi-abstract manner with subjects taken from my garden.Eventually I returned to the landscapes of West Wales, without figures.” Elwyn took part in numerous mixed shows in Britain and abroad from 1942 including at the Royal Academy. One-man exhibitions included Leicester Galleries, Howard Roberts Gallery in Cardiff, National Library of Wales, Tegfryn Gallery in Anglesey and in 1988 he shared a show with Thomas Rathmell at Ceri Richards Gallery, Swansea.
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, put on an eightieth birthday retrospective in 1996, touring a memorial show from 1999. Commissioned work was done for Barclays Bank, Shell, Radio Times, Harlech Television and the General Post Office. Originally a Welsh speaker, Elwyn was made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards and of RCamA. In 1956 he won the Royal National Eisteddfod gold medal. Elwyn’s work is held by many public collections, including National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth; National Museum of Wales, Cardiff; Welsh Arts Council; and Leeds University. Lived in Winchester, Hampshire.
Available Paintings:
‘In the Hill’s elbow’
Oil on canvas
POA
