Designer Desire: John Cleal

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The recent image above from our friend Alistair at West Wales Antiques took us on a journey of discovery to find out more about John Cleal and his art.

South African-born John Cleal (1929-2007) worked as an illustrator and cartoonist in the newspaper industry during the 1950s and 1960s. He was, at one time, a partner in the London-based Henrion Design Associates.

In 1962, Cleal and his family settled in Fishguard eventually founding the Workshop Wales Gallery in Lower Town, Fishguard in 1970. It offered free studio, exhibition and retail space to up to 15 artists. In the 1990s, the gallery relocated to Manorowen and is currently being run by his son, Mitchell, also an artist.

In 2006, he gifted ‘Looking Up‘ (shown below) to Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest where he had earlier received care as a patient. It was one of many donations that he made to the Welsh health service.

We’ve embedded a few other examples of his work below that we’ve found online.

The magic of carving a solid block of stone or wood never ceases to amaze and excite me, I know the block contains the image but realising it is the magic and the mystery.

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_{‘Looking Up‘ at Withybush Hospital}

_‘Juno‘

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Additional image credits:
Geograph | MutualArt

Designer Desire: Mark Rickard

Each Sunday, local antique dealer, Alistair Dryburgh of West Wales Antiques runs a (nearly always) weekly fair over on his Instagram feed. A couple of weeks ago, he had up for sale a trio of HUGE paintings by Mark Rickard.

They’d originally been commissioned in 1976 for a local club in Aberystwyth and represent Welsh rural life.

I instantly fell in love and proceeded to Google him to see if I could find any other artworks that he’d done. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a single artwork or any information about the artist himself… absolutely nothing at all!

His style reminds me of Joseph Herman and Stanley Spencer, especially the latter’s Clyde shipbuilding series.

I’ve messaged Alistair in the past few minutes and he’s said that the top two paintings – the tug-of-war and the sheep and cows – are still available, if you’re interested.

Tragically, we don’t have a wall big enough in our old cottage to hang one – not to mention multiple – paintings of this size… otherwise I’d have to own them.

If anyone out there can shed any light on Mark Rickard we’d love to learn more about him. An artist this talented must have produced more masterpieces… and hopefully smaller examples that could fit on our walls!

Designer Desire: Lilwen Lewis

A couple of weeks ago on a trip into Aberystwyth, Justin walked past Oriel y Bont – and an artwork in the window really stood out for him. He went over for a closer look and found that it was painted by Welsh artist, Lilwen Lewis.

When he returned home, he told me about it, and we looked online to see if we could find any information about her and discover any more of her works.

Lilwen is local to New Quay, a Mid-Wales harbour town 20 miles south of Aberystwyth. She studied art for 5 years; first to Carmarthen School of Art then on to Swansea School of Art to study Painting & Stained Glass and finally Cardiff College of Art, graduating from Cardiff University. She returned to live and work in New Quay after her studies and a five year stint teaching Art and Craft at St Clears Secondary School. She’s a member of Cardigan Art Society.

My inspiration comes from the landscape around my home walking through woods, farms and down to the seafront among the fishing boats. Observing the changing moods of the landscape and the people.
I like experimenting with different mediums and techniques. Going from realism through to semi abstraction. You never know how work will turn out or what it will lead to.

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Additional image credits:

Oriel y Bont | The Gallery yr Oriel

Designer Desire: Ogwyn Davies

Born in Trebanos, Neath Port Talbot, Ogwyn Davies (1925-2015) was a Welsh fine artist, ceramist and school teacher. He attended Swansea School of Art between 1947 & 52 before going on to teach at Tregaron Comprehensive (Ysgol Uchradd) from 1955 to 1985. He was one of the founder members (along with Hywel Harries) of the Cardiganshire Art Society which was established in 1963.

I find farm buildings interest me greatly. Very often, the human association of several generations can be seen in the barns and sheds and a sense of poetry seems ever present. They record so graphically the passing of time as it leaves its marks on the walls. For decades many Welsh walls have become part of the world of protest and my interest in walls and marks have resulted in works reflecting this. The use of the words of our National Anthem came about I think after regular attendance at the Arms Park in Cardiff and hearing choirs of over fifty thousand voices singing the words so movingly _[credit]

His most famous work is probably Soar y Mynydd (top left in the montage above) the Grade II listed, Calvinist Methodist chapel in Llanddewi Brefi near Tregaron, Ceredigion. Built in 1822, it’s claimed to be the remotest chapel in all of Wales.

Examples of his work can be found in the permanent collections of National Library of Wales, National Museum Wales, Ceredigion Museum and Aberystwyth University.

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Additional image credits:
ArtUK | MOMA Cymru | Mutual Art

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: Welsh art

Designer Desire: John Cleal

Designer Desire: Mark Rickard

Designer Desire: Lilwen Lewis

Designer Desire: Ogwyn Davies