"As long as the negative critique of painting remains within the 'high art' establishment, there will always be reason to keep painting."

Nigel Williams MA Fine Art

Nigel Williams BA(Hons) PGCE(FE) MA (Fine Art)

Instagram: @nigelwilliams699art TicToc: nigelwilliams699art
"Landscape painting is as relevant today to most people as it ever was...
probably even more so as it's the antithesis of 'acceptable' contemporary critique."

LATEST NEWS - Feb 2024

1. Received a 'Highly Commended' for my submission to the King Lear Prize 2023, UK open exhibition. The critics full feedback is towards the bottom of this page (along with an image of the painting).

2. Delighted to have a painting accepted for the Royal Cambrian Academy Open Exhibition in Conwy, North Wales in January 2024.

3. Work on show at the Oriel Cric Art Festival from 24th May 2024.

Welcome and thank you...

Critic review of "Source of the Tawe" - 'HIGHLY COMMENDED' KING LEAR PRIZE 2023.

"The intricate brushstrokes and colour blending create a sense of movement and life in the water, while the realistic depiction of the surrounding landscape draws the viewer in. The use of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the overall composition."

Welcome to the website, where I would like to explain my painting process, ideas, interests and passion for painting. Please explore the links. My About page tells you about me, and the Videos show some of the locations I've filmed to inspire some of the work you'll find here. Along with the paintings, I've included some of the studies that are often more fun to produce and, when things go right, are finished pieces in their own right. I hope you enjoy viewing the work, and I've included a quick pay option if you'd like to buy any of the work featured. Once again, thank you.

About me... in brief... just in case you don't have time to read the whole site. :)
I have a first class (Hons) degree in painting and drawing and a master's degree in fine art. I have lectured in fine art for twenty-three years and am the curriculum leader for the subject. I have painted for over fifty years and have work in private and public collections in the UK, USA, Australia, Ireland and Singapore. I have had work in several major selected exhibitions in Wales and also drawings in the Cheltenham Drawing Biennale. In the early noughties I exhibited with the Attic Gallery in Swansea and was, along with world renown photographer Bernard Mitchell, the founding editor of the art website artcymru.co.uk, which promoted the art and artists of Wales to the rest of the world. The site had over 200 Welsh artists exhibiting work and received over 400,000 visits each month during its peak. The site ceased in 2007 due to lack of support from the Welsh Arts Council. I also served on the committee of the Friends of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and was a member of the Josef Herman Foundation committee.
Art Publications: "Williams. N. (2011) Visual Atomism: A Painter's Perspective. Lulu Books, USA."
"Williams N. (2010) Art Ideas Handbook. Lulu Books, USA."

The Play Tent. Oil on canvas. 24" x 32".
The Empty Chair. Oil on canvas. 24" x 32".
Unwitting Voyeur. Oil on canvas. 24" x 32".
Reflection. Oil on canvas. 24" x 32".

Nigel Williams
First Class BA(Hons) Painting & Drawing PGCE(FE) & MA Fine Art.

Developing Work...

Paintings ignite feelings in us all. As a painter, it's my drive to convey my personal response to what I see and feel. It's not just about depicting just what I see, but to make it my own, my vision, my emotions, and to transfer that to canvas or paper through marks that simply describe my experience at that single moment in time. Whether it be landscape or figurative, capturing a moment in time through paint brings a unique perspective, a fleeting vision of the world preserved for others to experience too.

Hot off the easel...

Some recent work...

"INSTANTS."

An "Instant" has several connotations. If we freeze a moment in time - what do we see? This works explores these "Instants" and the duality of words and their meanings in titles.See and read more about this series HERE.

The Play tent. 2024.

Oil on canvas, 24" x 32" (61cm x 80cm).A brief respite during the chaos of a child's party.

The Empty Chair. 2024.

Oil on canvas, 24' x 32' (61cm x 80cm).

The Unwitting Voyeur. 2024.

Oil on canvas, 24" x 32" (61cm x 80cm)..

Afon Giedd, Cwmgiedd.

Evening plein air sketch of the Afon Giedd (River Giedd) in Cwmgiedd, Ystradgynlais.

The Ambassadors

Unashamed reference to Hans Holbein the Younger's classic double portrait. This is my take in the days of environmental upheaval.

On the Easel

A recent trip to North Wales gave me the opportunity to respond to the mystery and magic of Eryri. Please click on the North Wales tab to see more.

Contemporary Practice...

An exploration of technique is something that never ends, or at least I believe it shouldn't. Each mark informs the next and can, for me, determine the final response to a place. My MA dissertation entitled; "Visual Atomism - A Painter's Perspective" explored the idea that each mark is as important as the next, even if it is subsequently buried beneath the morass of frenzied strokes that follow. Each mark contributes and forms the piece, like a worker bee adding pollen to the hive or the factory worker placing a single but vital part on the assembly line. I would argue that the early marks establish the eventual interaction between the scene, the artist and the gallery and that these contributors are the blue-collared, golden nuggets of a painting.

QRT

Try it for yourself... scan the code and see where it takes you. It's perfectly safe.

So many paintings, so little space...

Please click on the link here or above to view the waterfalls and other paintings from the Source of the Tawe series.

Source of the Afon Clydach

On the mountain road from Brynamman to Llandovery and Llandeilo is the Afon Clydach, which winds and rolls towards the River Towy before reaching the sea. It's a landscape of contrasts. Wide mountainous plains and a twisting road that switches back many times on its route over the mountain and down over the Clydach. These paintings are part of a series of studies of the the river in its infancy.

See the rest of the series by clicking the menu link for CLYDACH SERIES above.

Old Trecastle Road

A large oil on canvas. 65cm x 90cm.
Framed in tray or 'floater' frame (Charcoal grey).

HIGHLY COMMENDED - KING LEAR PRIZE 2023.

Selectors Feedback:

Initial reflections on your Artwork: The artwork "Source of the Tawe" evokes a sense of tranquillity and peace with its harmonious depiction of the river's source. The use of warm brown hues for the rolling hills adds to the peaceful atmosphere, while the flowing stream in the centre brings a sense of calm and balance. The artist's choice of oil on canvas medium adds a soft and dreamy quality to the overall composition, enhancing the emotional impact of the artwork.

It reminds us of... 1. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) - Sargent's landscapes also feature a careful attention to detail and a harmonious colour palette, making his work similar to the artwork's technical feature and descriptive word. Additionally, both artists often portrayed natural scenes, with Sargent known for his landscapes of rivers and streams.

2. Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) - Pissarro's landscapes also exhibit a harmonious colour scheme and an emphasis on natural detail, similar to the artwork's best technical feature. Both artists also often depicted rivers and streams in their work, with Pissarro known for his Impressionist style.

3. Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) - Cézanne's landscapes, like the artwork, often focused on the natural beauty of a specific location, with a strong attention to detail and a harmonious use of colour. Both artists were also known for their use of thick, textured brushstrokes to capture the essence of nature.

4. Claude Monet (1840-1926) - Monet's landscapes, particularly his series of paintings of the Seine river, share a similar subject matter to the artwork and also feature a harmonious colour palette and attention to detail. Both artists were also masters of capturing the natural landscape in a realistic yet dreamy way.

5. J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) - Turner's landscapes, particularly his later works, display a similar use of colour and attention to detail as the artwork, with a focus on the play of light and shadows on natural elements. Additionally, both artists were known for their romantic and poetic depictions of the natural world.

6. David Cox (1783-1859) - Cox's landscapes, like the artwork, often feature a serene and harmonious colour palette, with a strong attention to detail in capturing the natural elements. Both artists also shared a love for portraying the beauty of the British countryside, with Cox known for his depictions of rivers and streams.

Features which are particularly good: The intricate brushstrokes and colour blending create a sense of movement and life in the water, while the realistic depiction of the surrounding landscape draws the viewer in. The use of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the overall composition.