Moments of Light on Ancient Welsh Mountains

David Woodford has been patiently capturing the moments of light on the ancient mountains of Eryri for decades. He is immersed in this landscape, living in the lower slopes of the Carneddau range, overlooking Nant Ffrancon in which the Ogwen flows.

His style of working is very different to the more immediate nature of the 'School of Kyffin' who have emerged in north Wales in the last 50 years. Whilst Kyffin and others simplify the landscape with their angular palette knife strokes, Woodford embraces every detail. His work encompasses the details in the ridges, peaks, slopes, valleys and lakes like an architect undertaking a monumental project.

Light has a critical part to play. Woodford gives as much attention to the clouds, skies and shafts of sunlight as he does the earth below. The whole of nature is portrayed.

For the cyclists, hikers, scramblers, para-gliders who play in this outstanding scenery. And for those who are lucky enough to live amongst the mountains, David Woodford is an artistic prophet. His work communicates perfectly this mountain landscape which gives us so much enjoyment and headspace.

A fabulous collection of David Woodford works has been entered by a family in the midlands for our Welsh Sale this April. Below is the highlight of this collection.

DAVID WOODFORD large and fine exhibition quality oil on canvas - Eryri (Snowdonia) with clouds and shaft of sunlight illuminating Blaen y Nant, Nant Ffrancon and with Cwm Idwal together with Llyn Llydaw beyond, as viewed by the artist from the lower slopes of Pen yr Ole Wen, inscribed verso, 82 x 118cms

Provenance: private collection West Midlands, smaller version of this scene illustrated as Plate 32, 'The Art of David Woodford - Mountains and Memories' by Tom Dutton (Gwas Carreg Gwalch) 2016

Estimate £4000-6000 (Welsh Sale: April 27th)

Royal Cambrian Academician (RCA) / Born 1938 / Educated Lancing College

➤ National Diploma in Art and Design, West Sussex College of Art

➤ Art Teacher Certificate, Leeds College of Art

➤ Certificate of the Royal Academy Schools, The Royal Academy of Art, London

Awards and achievements

➤ Elizabeth.T.Greenshields award (1971)

➤ Represented Wales. Freemantle Arts Festival

➤ Joint winner National Eisteddfod Fine Art Prize (1983)

➤ Royal Cambrian Academician

Works owned by

➤ The British Arts Council

➤ The National Library of Wales

➤ The National Museum of Wales

Major Exhibitions / Solo Exhibitions

➤ Waterhouse Gallery London

➤ The Mall Galleries London

➤ University College of North Wales, Oriel Bangor

➤ Wrexham Arts Centre

➤ Mostyn Art Gallery, Llandudno

➤ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

➤ Glyn Vivian Gallery, Swansea

➤ Oriel Cardiff W.A.C.

➤ D.L.I. Gallery, Durham

➤ The Alpine Club, London

➤ National Trust Exhibition, Erddig

➤ Oriel Ynys Môn, Llangefni

➤ Turner House, National Museum of Wales, Penarth

➤ The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

➤ The Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy

➤ The Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead

➤ Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth

➤ Rhyl Arts Centre

➤ Plas Glyn-y-Weddw

➤ Bodelwyddan Castle

Mixed Exhibitions

➤ R.A. Summer shows (1967, 1968)

➤ Critics choice, Tooths Gallery, London

➤ The Maas Gallery, London

➤ Artists in North Wales, Liverpool Academy

➤ Hereford City Art Gallery

….. and many more.

Publications

➤ Illustrations to ‘Four Great Castles’ by Dr Arnold Taylor

➤ Paper ‘Elemental Associations’ by David Woodford

➤ Book ‘The Art of David Woodford' by Tom Dutton