Tag: landscape art

Designer Desire: Kyffin Williams

Montage of Kyffin Williams artworks

We’re just back from a few days away in sunny Wales, so it’s timely that we’re featuring a famous Welsh artist in this week’s Designer Desire series, Sir Kyffin Williams.

Williams (1918 – 2006) was a landscape and portrait painter who lived in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll (otherwise famously known as Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch) on the Welsh island of Anglesey. He failed an army medical on the grounds of epilepsy and was advised by a doctor, “As you are, in fact, abnormal, I think it would be a good idea if you took up art”.

He attended Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1941. His subject matter often consisted of Welsh mountains and cottages with farmers, shepherds and sheepdogs taking centre stage.

Oil painting self-portrait by Kyffin Williams

I don’t think we’ll be able to afford one a Kyffin Williams original oil painting in this lifetime or the next; however, limited-edition prints and multiples can be had at auction and online.

Here’s a 6-minute film which shares photographs of the man and further examples of his work.

Additional image credits:

Art Wales

Designer Desire: W Heaton Cooper

Mosaic of W Heaton Cooper paintings and books | H is for Home

As mentioned in yesterday’s Price Points post, we’ve recently been holidaying in the glorious Lake District. One artist that immediately springs to mind when the Lake District is mentioned is W Heaton Cooper. So he’s our choice for this week’s Designer Desire feature. His paintings, predominantly in watercolour, capture the beauty and atmosphere of the landscape – the physical features, the subtle tones – and the ever-changing light.

Portrait of W Heaton Cooper and his familycredit

W Heaton Cooper (1903-1995) came from a family of artists – his father Alfred was very well regarded – and an obvious influence on his work. W Heaton Cooper’s style is more impressionistic – and we find it has more impact and drama. His son, Julian and granddaughter, Rebecca carry on the artistic tradition.

In 1937-8, W Heaton Cooper and his wife, Ophelia, built a home, studio and gallery in Grasmere; it is still owned & run by his family.

He has published a number of books containing his works including The Hills of Lakeland, The Tarns of Lakeland, Lakeland Portraits and his autobiography, Mountain Painter. All of which can be found on Amazon and Abe Books.

When we visit the Lakes, we often stay at a house owned by one of Justin’s relatives. It was built in the late 1960s/early 70s – and is relatively untouched from that time. It still has lots of teak fittings and the the original spiral staircase running from top to bottom through the three floors. We often imagine what we’d do with it décor wise if it was ours. It’s constructed of local slate, so has a Lakeland feel, but it’s not a ‘cutesy’ Lakeland cottage. We’d keep the original features and go mid-century modern in style with a comfortable, relaxed country rustic vibe. And, without doubt, we’d have a really huge W Heaton Cooper on one wall!

Original watercolours come up for sale at auction and reproduction prints can be found on eBay.

Additional image credits:

Babbington Fine Art | Pinterest