Artist: Gareth Thomas

Artist’s Statement

Gareth Thomas was born in 1955 in Swansea. He attended Trinity College, Carmarthen. He left teaching in 1979 to paint full time, and has exhibited widely throughout the UK. His work can be seen in many public collections including those of Swansea City Council, Dyfed County Council and the Royal Artillery. His paintings have been purchased by people, from as far apart as America and Australia and in 1984 he was elected committee member of the Watercolour Society of Wales.

A lot of his appeal is derived from his use of watercolour to create atmospheric interpretation with a strong sense of place. However, many of his works also show a growing interest in a more solid approach to shape and colour.

The early part of his career was devoted to working in Wales, especially the area surrounding his home city of Swansea. Now, with the need for new images, paintings of France and Italy are included among the more established subject matter of Wales. The majority of his works have been completed ‘on the spot’ giving his paintings a sense of freshness and spontaneity.