Warren Williams

Warren was born in 1975 in Neath. He studied Fine Art from 1995 to 1999 at Swansea's Institute of Higher Education. In 2002 he was awarded student prize winner at the Welsh Artist of the Year Show with his Self-Portrait "Man Asleep";

In 2002, Warren Williams decorated the walls at his Mission Gallery exhibition with some very succinct statements, which are a useful guide to understanding his work: "In a third rate, third world toy town of mediocre cultural achievements, caused by political dimwits and greedy self interest of lazy and unconcerned public sector employees who can't find the cultural compass".

"I like you a lot... but there's a lot of things about you I don't like".

My Math's teacher told me that he flew a Lancaster Bomber in the Second World War, against the Germans. I don't think his bombing the shit out of the Germans was that different from his teaching technique. For him it was still Dresden 1944".

"To a lot of people life is just a catwalk ... not so much a jungle, more a flower box ".

"Was on the telephone and with his usual hyperbole said: 'Oh, it'll probably be under one of the many piles of books, papers, pamphlets, etc. that are strewn the length and breadth of my bedroom floor'. I though: 'I've got many piles of books too, but I wrote most of them myself".

"He had chosen from all the faces he had ever seen only his own".

"I went to sit down, but fell and got that awful anal concussion".

"There's a drought at the river of dreams and my stream of consciousness has dried up".

Warren's work reflects his interest in the prime matter - the paint itself. He has researched the often neglected technicalities of his craft, exploring for instance, the personalities of the different pigments. While he looks back at and reflects the spirit of the old masters and draws knowledge from their skill, their techniques, he is not imitating old paintings he is learning from them. He is looking firmly towards the future which he sees as full of new challenging possibilities (quoted from exhib. cat. Attic Gallery Sept/Oct. 2004).

Awards & Commissions: 2002 student prize winner Young Welsh Artist of the Year; 2007 Western Mail's 'Most Magnificent Artist Choice'.

Collections: 1999's Vice Chairman of Christies; British Embassy