John Uzzell Edwards

John Uzzell Edwards (10 October 1934 – 5 March 2014) was a Welsh painter. He was also the father of artist Charles Uzzell Edwards.

John Uzzell Edwards
Born	10 October 1934 Deri, Wales.
Died	5 March 2014 Rhiwfawr, Wales.
Nationality	Welsh
Known for	Painting
Movement	Pure painting
Awards	Granada Arts Fellowship, York University. . British Prix de Rome, British School in Rome. Images of Wales, National Eisteddfod of Wales. Portraits of Welsh People, National Eisteddfod of Wales. Artist in Residence, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. Honorary member of York University. Welsh Arts Council travel scholarship.

Early life

Uzzell Edwards was born in 1934, in Deri; a coal-mining village in the Rhymney Valley.[1] He attended Bargoed Grammar School and later took a series of jobs, where he was made redundant but made enough money to be able to move to Paris in 1956, where he could pursue his interest in painting, visiting galleries and museums in the French capital. However, he later returned to Wales, where he worked in Pembrokeshire and exhibited in Tenby.[1]

Art-work

Uzzell Edwards was inspired by Welsh and Celtic art and craft, including Welsh quilts, Celtic crosses and stone inscriptions, mediaeval tiles and ancient manuscripts. He describes his technique as being concerned with pure painting'’, rather than picture making.[2] He exhibited widely across the UK and internationally including the Inter-Celtic festival at L'Orient, Brittany.[3][4]
In 1996 he was commissioned by the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham to paint any Shakespearean character. He chose Owain Glyndŵr.[5]

Later life

Uzzell Edwards lived and worked in Rhiwfawr and Tenby. In 1998 he formed Ysbryd – Spirit Wales, exhibiting with other Welsh painters including Brendan Stuart Burns and Martyn Jones.[5] He died in March 2014.[6]

Awards

• 1966: Awarded the Granada Arts Fellowship by York University.[7]
• 1968: Received the British Prix de Rome at the British School in Rome.[7]
• 1972: Images of Wales winner at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.[5]
• 1973: Portraits of Welsh People winner at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.[5]
• 1986: Made '’Artist in Residence'’ at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.[7]
• 1986: Made an honorary member of York University.[7]
• 1988: Received a Welsh Arts Council Travel scholarship to study Celtic art in Europe.[7]

Selected exhibitions

• 2013: "A Welsh Journey", Saint David's Hall Exhibition Space, Cardiff.[8]
• 2004: Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth.[7]
• 2003: The National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff.[7]
• 2001: The Mall Galleries, London.[7]
• 2000: Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.[7]
• 1999: The Humphries Gallery, San Francisco.[7]

Further reading

• George, Phil (2014). "John Uzzell Edwards (1934–2014) A Life Remembered" (PDF). Friends of the Glynn Vivian Newsletter (Spring 2014): 5.

References

2. "John Uzzell Edwards bring warmth and social history to Swansea Waterfront Museum". Culture24. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
3. "Wales Arts International | Euro-Celtic Visual Art Exhibition". Wai.org.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
4. Ignacio Villarreal (12 December 2011). "Welsh quilt exhibition showcased at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea". Artdaily.org. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
5. "John Uzzell Edwards". Artinwales.250x.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
6. David Buckman (3 April 2014). "John Uzzell Edwards obituary | Art and design". The Guardian. theguardian.com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
7. "Info - John Uzzell Edwards". Johnuzzelledwards.virb.com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
8. https://web.archive.org/web/20140322084311/http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/english/exhibitions/. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)