Opening Arfon's eyes to the world of art

As a teenager in the early 60’s I used to spend the summer holidays with my grandparents in Caernarfon. While there I also spent far too much time with friends in a café called The Manticore which was opposite the castle entrance. This is where I learned how to make a cup of frothy coffee last almost two hours (great juke box as well!)

Next door was a shop called Gray Thomas which sold all sorts of souvenirs and also art materials. In the large shop window there would always be a few paintings for sale, mostly colourful Snowdonia scenes with usually a tranquil lake in the foreground.

The rugged mountains were painted with oil that was applied so thickly that you just had to touch it!  In contrast the lakes always looked as smooth as silk. The artist’s name was Charles Wyatt Warren and I absolutely fell in love with his work! It was not just the art, there was also something very appealing about the letter box shape of the paintings and the hessian frames which have become synonymous with his work.

Unfortunately I never had the opportunity of  meeting him and have often wondered what sort of person he was. All I knew was that he lived in Caernarfon and drove an open top Triumph! 

Someone who did know him well was the portrait artist David Griffiths….How would he describe him? 

"A charming, sociable yet diffident gentleman who was the Chief Clerk with Caernarfonshire County Council. He was a workaholic who made his own frames, cut the board and would paint early morning and late into the night. 

When I left teaching in 1964 I opened a gallery in Pwllheli and Donald McIntyre suggested that I invited Charles Wyatt Warren to exhibit as at the time he was showing at the Sandbach café in Llandudno. Needless to say he was a great success with both the tourists and locals.

So when I opened The David Griffiths Gallery in Cardiff in 1965 (now The Albany) the first exhibition was works by Charles Wyatt Warren. I obviously knew of his popularity in North Wales but have to admit I was slightly concerned as to how popular his work would be in the South. I needn’t have worried, as it was a total sell out and even made the news in The Western Mail!"

I asked David how did he think Charles would feel about the current popularity of his work.

"He would be over the moon! He knew that when he was selling in cafes in North Wales that tourists were buying his work to take back home to the Midlands as a memento of their holiday. He’d be highly thrilled to know that the Welsh and even further afield art buying public were bidding in a prestigious auction for his work….and at such prices!  A truly unassuming gentleman!"

There is no doubt that there has been a resurgence of interest in Charles Wyatt Warren during the past ten years.

Even twenty years or so ago I remember filming a car boot sale on Anglesey and seeing a couple of his paintings being offered..…£65 each or £120 for the pair!  How times have changed! 

I also remember a few years ago when for the first time a Charles Wyatt Warren was sold at auction for over £1,000 and David Rogers Jones turning to me and saying in his inimitable way “Wel Wel Wel..pwy fasa’n meddwl!”  (Well Well Well ..who’d have thought!)

There cannot have been a more prolific artist than Charles Wyatt Warren. It’s quite remarkable how this unassuming, self taught “Cofi” has found his way into homes all across the UK 

There is no doubt that his most popular images are paintings of y Wyddfa from Llyn Llydaw, Gwynant, Nantlle or Mymbyr with his signature silver birch trees strategically placed along the shore.

This Welsh Sale shows us that there was a lot more to Charles Wyatt Warren than this with paintings of Market Street, Beaumaris and even the castle itself. There’s a rare seascape and a detailed study of the Menai Suspension Bridge and my favourite an atmospheric, panoramic view of Porth Cwyfan. More evidence if needed of his versatility. 

However if you prefer the highly popular views of y Wyddfa then fear not …there are plenty of those in the Sale as well!

Personally I feel incredibly indebted to Charles Wyatt Warren….all those years ago in Caernarfon he was my introduction to art and for that I can only say Diolch!

Below are a few of the twenty-one oil paintings by Charles Wyatt Warren in our November 2024 Welsh Sale auction.

View all Wyatt Warren paintings in the November Welsh Sale