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John Roberts 1923 - 2003
Sadly, my friend, John Roberts passed away, on Sunday the 9th of August 2003. As so often is the case, John never lived to see the current retrospective of his life's work at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, School of Art. A similar fate, fell upon the exhibitions of Will Roberts and Alfred Janes at the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea.
I first met and photographed John at the Grove Hotel, in St Davids, around 1996, with some of his pencil portraits of the great and the good of Wales. Here also on the stairs, was a large painting from his surelialist period of dolls, walking through the surf. In the dinning room were two small pictures from his clown period. On retirement he moved to StDavids, the Grove Hotel, was his second home. John was a master draughtsman, a fine painter, etcher and engraver, but best of all he had a great sense of humour.
Bernard Mitchell.
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"Metro-gnome" by John Roberts
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JOHN ROBERTS
RCA
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John Roberts
was born in Tredegar in 1923. He was educated at Cathays High School, Cardiff, Cardiff School of Art and at the Royal College of Art. He served during the Second World War with the South Wales Borderers and was commissioned with the Indian Signal Corps. Following a period as Lecturer at Cardiff College of Art, he was appointed in 1960 as Lecturer at Liverpool College of Art (later Liverpool Polytechnic). From 1972 - 83 he held the post of Principal Lecturer in the Department of Graphic Design at Liverpool Polytechnic. He now lives in StDavid's, Pembrokeshire.
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"Clown"
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John Roberts has been Treasurer at the Liverpool Academy of Arts. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers, Fellow of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours and a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy.
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An example of Drypoint work by John Roberts
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Clown Series - "Ace of Spades"
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Roberts' work has been featured in a number of exhibitions, including a one - man exhibitions at Turner House, Penarth (1953) and at the Newport Art Gallery (1986). His illustrations have appeared in numerous volumes, including the publications of the B.B.C., and Longmans, Macmillans, Nelson, Odhams, Penguin and the London University Press.
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Roberts has work in private and public collections, including those of the National Library of Wales, National Museum of Wales, Newport Art Gallery, University of Liverpool, U.W.I.S.T and the Welsh Arts Council.
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Etching by John Roberts
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For further information: Please contact.
E-mail:
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JOHN ROBERTS
