Islwyn Watkins was born in 1938 in Tonypandy,
South Wales. From 1954 to 1959 he studied Fine Art at Cardiff College of Art and from 1959 to 1964 Lithography
at Hornsey College of Art. In 1965/66 he did his Master's degree at University of Wisconsin Madison USA. He has
his studio in Knighton, Gwent, and is a great admirer of Kurt Schwitters.
Artist's Statement:
"Since the early 1960s my work has followed a steady development. While trained as a painter and potter, my work has evolved into three-dimensional relief or free-standing structures. These use found materials, wood etc.,
which have already had an existence. They bear not just the original workings of the joiner, carpenter or engineer but have over a period been modified by time, weather, sea or the hand of man. The surfaces are worn, bleached, distressed,
the colours have been faded, paint has flaked or been abraded.
These elements are combined to create new identities indicated by the pieces themselves and constrained by the space and constraints of the context for which the work may be being produced. New materials and painted surfaces are used as
necessary towards these ends and provide a contrast to the found material" (quoted, by kind permission of the artist, from 'Revelations - Processes of Making Art').
For most of his productive years Islwyn Watkins has created relief and free-standing constructions using found materials especially wood and leather.
But he has also worked on paper to create collages (using mixed media e.g. materials such as paint, wallpaper, old bus tickets etc.) , intaglio prints & lithographs as well as small paintings in acrylic.
As in his three-dimensional pieces, each work has its own identity and the same considerations of space, proportions & colour apply.
Titles, if they exist, describe colours or are of an allusive nature or are associative (e.g. references to Schwitters, his role model). His titles identify rather than describe his work, which is a reflection of his curiosity, tolerance
and sense of humour, something which he and Robert Harding have in common.
Teaching Experience:
1959-64 at a North London secondary school & part-time at South Hertfordshire College & the Working Men's College London; 1965 at James Graham College Leeds; 1965/66 part-time at
the University of Wisconsinm Madison USA; 1966/67 part-time at Birmingham College of Art & Shenstone College Bromsgrove; 1967-77 Birmingham College of Art/Polytechnic.
Commissions: former chairman of the Welsh Group and of the Association of Artists & Designers in Wales.
Interested in & actively involved with antique ceramics.
International Links:
exhibitions abroad=1966 W.V.Smith Gallery, Los Angeles (solo); Wisconsin Centre, Madison (solo);
1960s at the International Miniature Print Show in USA (mixed); also worked on a series of environmental & happening-type works in USA;
collections abroad=prints of the etching "Persian" in public collections in USA.
academia abroad=1965-66 taught part-time & studied for a Master's degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison USA.
.. Islwyn Watkins
