William Selwyn, Swnt Enlli – Bardsey Sound, Watercolour, 1980s

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William selwyn.
welsh ( b.1933 ).
swnt enlli – bardsey sound.
watercolour.
signed lower right.
image size 14.6 inches x … Read more William selwyn.
welsh ( b.1933 ).
swnt enlli – bardsey sound.
watercolour.
signed lower right.
image size 14.6 inches x 20.7 inches ( 37cm x 52.5cm ).
frame size 24.4 inches x 30.7 inches ( 62cm x 78cm ).

this original painting is by the welsh artist william selwyn.
the watercolour is presented and supplied in a sympathetic and contrasting contemporary frame to suit the subject colouration (which is shown in these photographs) and behind glass.
this vintage painting is in superb condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.
the watercolour is signed lower right.

william selwyn has produced atmospheric and highly accomplished work, which has earned him the well-deserved reputation for being one of the best living watercolour artists working today. His work is now highly acclaimed and collected. His standing as one of the great welsh artists is such that his work is has been part of the gcse art curriculum for students living in wales, ensuring him a place in the hearts and minds of a whole generation of welsh children.

william selwyn was born as william selwyn jones in caernarfon in 1933. There was another now great artist of the same name who was born in llanberis, north wales and as the two both became successful they came to an agreement which served to prevent them being mistaken for each other. One became known as william selwyn, the other as selwyn jones.

william selwyn has spent most of his life in the area of his birth and currently lives and works from north wales. From 1952 - 1954 he served national service in the royal artillery and then studied at bangor normal college from 1954 - 1956. He subsequently taught art at maesincla junior school and at syr hugh owen school until his retirement in 1990. Since his retirement from teaching selwyn has devoted himself to painting full-time.

his art chiefly concerns the landscape of gwynedd, farm workers and fishermen. He says, 'apart from work done in venice and paris most of my subjects are inspired by the landscape of gwynedd and its people. I am most grateful to the fishermen and the farming community for providing me with much material to paint. I aim to record an experience at a specific time at a location where the elements also play an important part.'

snowdonia, on his doorstep, has also been a constant inspiration with its dramatic mountain passes and ever changing light.

whilst he is best known for his welsh scenes selwyn has also painted extensively in england and venice. He is a master of light and atmosphere and his work evokes great emotion.

he is an elected member of the royal cambrian academy.

he has exhibited widely, including at the royal cambrian academy, the royal national eisteddfod of wales, the royal west of england academy, the royal society of british artists in london, the tegfryn art gallery at menai bridge, the albany gallery, cardiff, the thackery gallery, london and the tibb lane gallery in manchester.

he was the 1998 prizewinner of the singer & friedlander sunday times 11th watercolour competition with his watercolour of llanberis pass. He was welsh artist of the year in 2001 and winner of the spirit of llyn in 2003.

william selwyn's works has been purchased by gwynedd council and anglesey county council, by the university of bangor, the arts council of wales, the national library of wales and the university of bath. Today his paintings form part of many prominent private collections both at home and abroad.

sir kyffin williams has said “i believe william selwyn to be one of wales’s finest watercolourists. It is wonderful to see how his painting has just blossomed….”



bardsey island, known as the legendary island of 20,000 saints, lies almost two miles off the llyn peninsula in the welsh county of gwynedd. In the past the island was home to a monastery and was a place of pilgrimage. It is still regarded as a spiritual and sacred place by many, and some claim that it was the burial site of king arthur. In more recent years it is known as a wildlife haven and has a special place in the cultural life of wales.
bardsey sound is the stretch of water between the tip of the llyn peninsula and bardsey island.

this original watercolour looks across bardsey sound towards bardsey island from the mainland, in the midst of a storm. The shore is almost devoid of features, the island rises out of the seas, and the rain lashes down from a heavy clouded sky. The palette is almost entirely shades of grey, whilst there is a silver shine on the sea where the sun is trying to break through from behind a cloud. If ever there was a painting to illustrate that every cloud has a silver lining, this is it! this is a masterful and atmospheric piece from an artist at the height of his talent. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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