While on holiday in Anglesey, the late Welsh-born artist Gwilym Owen Hughes would sit and paint the views for hour upon hour, regularly attracting the attention of other campers who would commission him to create a painting of their favourite Welsh area.
But Gwilym’s paintings were not only bought by the Welsh. According to his grandson Craig Hughes, Gwilym’s work has been found gracing the walls of homes as far away as America – and now the search is on in Shrewsbury.
Craig told the Chronicle that on several occasions his grandfather, who died in 2005 at the age of 74, would visit the old Rolls Royce factory, which was taken over by Sentinel’s Shrewsbury factory for diesel engine production in 1956, in the course of his work.
Gwilym Owen Hughes.
It was there that he would deliver various paintings of the local scenery after taking on commissions from the staff.
Now Craig is creating a blog and will launch a website next year to celebrate his grandfather’s life and work.
Craig said: “Gwilym had produced numerous oil paintings in the Malvern, Worcester, Angelsey and Shropshire area. At present I’m in the middle of creating a website and a blog dedicated to him.
“To cut a long story short, I’m trying to track down any paintings that he did for the people of Shrewsbury. So far, I have traced around 70 oil paintings, but we know that he had painted more. The paintings should be signed G.O Hughes or Gwilym Hughes and there could be hundreds in the Shrewsbury area.”
Craig has spent the past seven months searching Anglesey for the paintings which has involved joining internet forums and even cold calling and door knocking strangers in the hope to track down the artwork.
“I have been overwhelmed by just how helpful people can really be when put on the spot,” he said.
“Not one person that I met had a bad word to say about Gwilym, but all said what a shame it was that he was no longer with us. My blog http://gwilymhughesartist.blogspot.com shows the outstanding level of Gwilym’s oil painting talents. I would also like to share some great stories on the way.
“My grandfather did painting for the love of it and a lot were done for free. Gwilym’s wife Beryl, she’s over the moon with the work I’ve found. Ninety per cent has been from Wales.”
An oil painting of Snowdon.
If anyone has in their possession or knows the whereabouts of any of Gwilym’s paintings, they should contact Craig Hughes on 07952886676 or email craigandnic28@hot mail.com
By Charlotte Hester