This article is about the Welsh expressionist painter who lived 1907–2000. For the footballer, see Will Roberts (footballer). For the figure, portrait and war painter (1895–1980), see William Roberts (painter). For the Days of our Lives character, see Will Horton.
Will Roberts (21 December 1907 – 11 March 2000) was a Welsh expressionist painter.[1]
Roberts was born in Ruabon, Denbighshire, the son of a railwayman of the Great Western Railway. The family moved to Neath in Glamorgan in 1918. His gift for drawing was apparent from early on and, as a part-time student for four years from 1928, Roberts took classes at Swansea Art School under William Grant Murray. In 1945, he met the Polish artist Josef Herman. At that time, Herman was living in the neighbouring town of Ystradgynlais. They shared an appreciation of Expressionism and often painted together. Later, Roberts was to acknowledge Herman's influence on his work.[2]
Roberts found inspiration in the local community, painting industrial workers and farmers, and domestic scenes of family life. Some of Roberts' most striking works are of Welsh landscapes and he is now widely acknowledged as one of Wales's modern masters. In 1962, Roberts won the Byng-Stamper Prize for landscape painting, judged by Sir Kenneth Clark, for Farm at Cimla which was acquired by the National Museum of Wales. In 1992, he was awarded an honorary Fellowship by University College, Swansea, and in 1994 a retrospective exhibition of his work was the centrepiece of the arts exhibit at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. In 1998, the National Library of Wales accepted a donation of 600 drawings from Roberts.
He was one of the original members of the arts group 56 Group Wales, which set out to raise the profile of modern Welsh art.[3]
Roberts died in Neath, where his 24 charcoal drawings of the Stations of the Cross may be seen in St David's Church. Another of his works, The Three Magi, is on the choir vestry wall.[4] A memorial exhibition of drawings and some paintings was shown at the National Library of Wales in 2001.
Referencesedit
^Meic Stephens (20 September 2012). Welsh Lives – Gone but Not Forgotten. Y Lolfa. p. 171. ISBN978-1-84771-605-7.
^Joyner, P: "Will Roberts RCA Drawings", P20, National Library of Wales, 2001.
^Eric Rowan, "Art in Wales: An Illustrated History 1850 – 1980", University of Wales Press, Cardiff (1985), pp. 125–129. ISBN0-7083-1408-2
^"History Points – St David's Church, Neath". historypoints.org.
Bibliographyedit
"Will Roberts – A Retrospective 1927–1992", (Oriel Mostyn Llandudno, 1993) ISBN0-906860-24-5
Joyner, P: "Will Roberts RCA Drawings", (National Library of Wales, 2001) ISBN1-86225-025-1
External linksedit
The Official Will Roberts website
Will Roberts exhibition at the Attic Gallery, Swansea at bbc.co.uk
'Farm at Cimla' (1962), National Museum of Wales
Will Roberts at welshart.net
43 artworks by or after Will Roberts at the Art UK site
This article about an artist, architect or photographer from Wales is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
will, roberts, this, article, about, welsh, expressionist, painter, lived, 1907, 2000, footballer, footballer, figure, portrait, painter, 1895, 1980, william, roberts, painter, days, lives, character, will, horton, december, 1907, march, 2000, welsh, expressio. This article is about the Welsh expressionist painter who lived 1907 2000 For the footballer see Will Roberts footballer For the figure portrait and war painter 1895 1980 see William Roberts painter For the Days of our Lives character see Will Horton Will Roberts 21 December 1907 11 March 2000 was a Welsh expressionist painter 1 William RobertsBorn21 December 1907in Ruabon Denbighshire WalesDied11 March 2000Neath WalesKnown forPainting drawing Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksBiography editRoberts was born in Ruabon Denbighshire the son of a railwayman of the Great Western Railway The family moved to Neath in Glamorgan in 1918 His gift for drawing was apparent from early on and as a part time student for four years from 1928 Roberts took classes at Swansea Art School under William Grant Murray In 1945 he met the Polish artist Josef Herman At that time Herman was living in the neighbouring town of Ystradgynlais They shared an appreciation of Expressionism and often painted together Later Roberts was to acknowledge Herman s influence on his work 2 Roberts found inspiration in the local community painting industrial workers and farmers and domestic scenes of family life Some of Roberts most striking works are of Welsh landscapes and he is now widely acknowledged as one of Wales s modern masters In 1962 Roberts won the Byng Stamper Prize for landscape painting judged by Sir Kenneth Clark for Farm at Cimla which was acquired by the National Museum of Wales In 1992 he was awarded an honorary Fellowship by University College Swansea and in 1994 a retrospective exhibition of his work was the centrepiece of the arts exhibit at the National Eisteddfod of Wales In 1998 the National Library of Wales accepted a donation of 600 drawings from Roberts He was one of the original members of the arts group 56 Group Wales which set out to raise the profile of modern Welsh art 3 Roberts died in Neath where his 24 charcoal drawings of the Stations of the Cross may be seen in St David s Church Another of his works The Three Magi is on the choir vestry wall 4 A memorial exhibition of drawings and some paintings was shown at the National Library of Wales in 2001 References edit Meic Stephens 20 September 2012 Welsh Lives Gone but Not Forgotten Y Lolfa p 171 ISBN 978 1 84771 605 7 Joyner P Will Roberts RCA Drawings P20 National Library of Wales 2001 Eric Rowan Art in Wales An Illustrated History 1850 1980 University of Wales Press Cardiff 1985 pp 125 129 ISBN 0 7083 1408 2 History Points St David s Church Neath historypoints org Bibliography edit Will Roberts A Retrospective 1927 1992 Oriel Mostyn Llandudno 1993 ISBN 0 906860 24 5 Joyner P Will Roberts RCA Drawings National Library of Wales 2001 ISBN 1 86225 025 1External links editThe Official Will Roberts website Will Roberts exhibition at the Attic Gallery Swansea at bbc co uk Farm at Cimla 1962 National Museum of Wales Will Roberts at welshart net 43 artworks by or after Will Roberts at the Art UK site nbsp This article about an artist architect or photographer from Wales is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Roberts amp oldid 1173484367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
