Articles & Interviews

Published Articles, Essays Reviews and Recorded Interviews:

Published Articles (and Reviews)

2024                                       Review article ‘Grand Dames and Human Struggles’ (the ‘Cyfoes’ exhibition at the National Library of Wales) in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 253 (Spring)

https://www.planetmagazine.org.uk/current

2023                                       Online exhibition article ‘Shaping Art in Wales’ on the website of Nation.Cymru, 26 November

https://nation.cymru/culture/shaping-art-in-wales/

2021                                       Online exhibition article ‘Arthur “Andy” Charlton in Context: from Hartlepool to Swansea – the Early Years’ on the website of Swansea Print Workshop

https://swanseaprintmakers.com/arthur-andy-charlton-in-context/

2021                                       Online review of ‘The Story of Welsh Art’, the BBC Cymru Wales television series (episode one), in: Wales Arts Review, 1 March

https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-story-of-welsh-art-tv-review/

2020                                       Online article ‘Kyffin Williams, PRCA 1992-2006’ on website of Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy

https://rcaconwy.org/about-the-rca/archive

2017                                       ‘Joan Baker’, obituary in The Guardian, 25 April

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/25/joan-baker-obituary

2016                                      ‘Mary Thomas’, obituary in The Guardian, 13 September

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2016/sep/13/mary-thomas-obituary

2015                                       ‘The Force Paintings of Ceri Richards: 1943-45’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Winter issue

2015                                       Review of the book ‘David Tress’ by Andrew Lambirth, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 220 (Winter)

2015                                       ‘Gareth Thomas at 60’, exhibition catalogue text for Gareth Thomas (1955-2019), Fountain Fine Art, Cardiff (Summer)

2015                                       ‘Osi Rhys Osmond (1942-2015)’, obituary (to accompany the tribute exhibition featuring an extract from the film ‘fire as green as grass’ and the artist’s painting ‘Mewn Cadwyni / In Chains’), Mission Gallery, Swansea (June); expanded and illustrated version in Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Summer issue (August)

'Osi Rhys Osmond' exhibition, Mission Gallery June-August 2015
‘Osi Rhys Osmond’ exhibition, Mission Gallery, Swansea June-August 2015

2015                                       ‘A new art dictionary for Modern and Contemporary Wales’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Spring issue

2014                                       ‘The visual culture of south Wales since 1910: Part Three (1980-2014): “Our” Art Scene’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Winter issue (a version of my live talk available online)

2014                                       ‘The visual culture of south Wales since 1910: Part Two (1945-80): A Growing and Shifting Art Scene’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Summer issue (a version of my live talk available online)

2014                                       ‘The visual culture of south Wales since 1910: Part One (1910-45): Establishing an Art Scene – “Floreat Swansea”’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Spring issue (a version of my live talk available online)

2012                                       ‘Space as Sanctuary’, review of the Keith Bayliss exhibition ‘Hortus Conclusus / The Enclosed Garden’, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 206 (May)

Keith Bayliss with one of his paintings, Rhondda Heritage Park Gallery, Trehafod, 27 September 2007
Keith Bayliss with one of his paintings, Rhondda Heritage Park Gallery, Trehafod, 27 September 2007

2011                                       ‘1911 and all that’ (four generations of artists in Swansea and south Wales), Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Spring issue

2011                                       ‘Imaging the Bible’, review of the book ‘Biblical Art from Wales’ edited by Martin O’Kane and John Morgan-Guy, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 201 (February)

2010                                       ‘Not Waving but Drowning’, review of the exhibition ‘Claudia Williams: Cofio Treweryn / Remembering Treweryn’, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 199 (Summer)

Claudia Williams with her paintings, Tenby, 29 March 2008
Claudia Williams with her paintings, Tenby, 29 March 2008

2010                                      ‘Arthur Giardelli (1911-2009): an appreciation’ and ‘Joan Baker: a retrospective (2009-10)’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Spring issue

Arthur Giardelli outside his house, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 6 April 2007
Arthur Giardelli outside his house, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 6 April 2007

 

Viewers at the 'Joan Baker: a retrospective' exhibition, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 10 July 2010
Viewers at the ‘Joan Baker: a retrospective’ exhibition, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 10 July 2010

2009                                       ‘Mapping the Welsh Group at 60’, Celf 125 Academi Frenhinol Gymreig / Royal Cambrian Academy, issue no 7 (January-March)

2008                                       ‘Andrew Graham Dixon at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’, Friends of Glynn Vivian Newsletter, Summer issue

2007                                       ‘Another kind of Eden’ in John Selway: a retrospective 1954-2007, Newport Museum & Art Gallery

2005                                       ‘The material for my painting: Ceri Thomas considers literary influences on the art of Ernest Zobole’, article; ‘Augustus and Gwen John’, review – New Welsh Review no 67 (Spring)

2003                                       ‘Meditations on Modernism’, review of Ivor Davies’ book ‘L’Età delle Avanguardie’, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 160 (August / September)

Ivor Davies in his studio, Penarth, 21 September 2009
Ivor Davies in his studio, Penarth, 21 September 2009

2001                                       ‘The Many Faces of Dylan’, article in The Dylan Thomas Society of Great Britain Journal no 8

2001                                       ‘Frank Roper (1914-2000)’, obituary, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 145 (February / March)

2000/01                                ‘Retrospective [Charles Burton]’, review/article, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 144 (December / January)

2000                                       ‘Et in Arcadia Ego: Ceri Thomas explores the painted world of Ken Elias’, profile article, in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 141 (June / July)  [and including a b&w photograph of Elias by Bernard Mitchell]

Ken Elias in his studio, Glynneath, 6 August 2007
Ken Elias in his studio, Glynneath, 6 August 2007

2000                                       ‘[Works] As Unique to the Eye as Music to the Ear’ (two-part interview with Alfred Janes), Cambria, Spring and Summer issues

1999                                       ‘Alfred Janes, Maker of Pictures’ (obituary), New Welsh Review no 44  [and including a b&w photograph of Janes by Bernard Mitchell]

1999                                       ‘The Welsh Group at 50’ (interview article with Tony Goble and David Tinker) in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no. 137 (October / November issue)  [and including colour photographs of Goble and Tinker by Bernard Mitchell]

Tony Goble's chair in the artist's home, Cardiff, 19 March 2008
Tony Goble’s chair in the artist’s home, Cardiff, 19 March 2008

1993                                       ‘Newport Museum & Art Gallery’ (article), Art Unit / Uned Gelf no 5 (Summer)

1993                                       ‘Carel Weight: Strange Happenings in the Common Place’ (review/appreciation), Art Unit / Uned Gelf no 4 (February)

1992                                       ‘Josef Herman’ (review/appreciation), Art Unit / Uned Gelf no 1 (August)

1992                                       ‘Will Roberts [at 85] – an appreciation’, Art News no 31, Welsh Arts Council (Spring)

1992                                       ‘Harry Holland [at 50]’ (review), Arts Review (February)

1990                                       ‘Ivor Davies in Swansea’ (review), Arts Review (October)

1988                                       ‘Pietro Annigoni and the Royal Academy: 1949-66’ (synopsis of paper given at 1988 AAH annual conference), Bulletin of Association of Art Historians no 30 (February)

 

Recorded Interviews

2014       Video: ‘Ceri Thomas presents “In Our Own Image? A Century of Imaging of and in South Wales: 1910-2013”’, Oriel y Bont, University of South Wales

2013       Video: ‘Michael Edmonds (1926-2014) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Joan Baker Room, University of Glamorgan / University of South Wales (filmed by Jon Tregenna and available to view at 56groupwales.com website)

2013       Video: ‘Ronald Lawrence (1929-23) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Oriel y Bont and Joan Baker Room, University of Glamorgan / University of South Wales (available to view in 2 parts on the University of South Wales ‘iTunesU’ website and YouTube) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SbLRAjJ3LY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6TxGt1s6go

2013       Video: ‘Ceri Thomas on Ken Elias, Denys Short, Ernest Zobole (1927-99) and others in his gallery talk “Pop Go the Valleys” given at the “Pop and Abstract” exhibition’, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, Cardiff (available to view in 3 parts on the University of South Wales ‘iTunesU’ website and YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WPCqWwYcxk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DYXQlXkMdM&t=15s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzH6wtYgXiQ

2002       Video: ‘Joan Baker (1922-2017), Jon Blackwood, Derek Butler, Tony Curtis, Ivor Davies, Ken Elias, Gwyn Evans, John Selway (1938-2017) and Fiona Windsor in conversation with Ceri Thomas about Ernest Zobole and art in Wales since 1945’ (session one) Zobole Gallery, University of Glamorgan (May)

2002       Video: ‘Eileen Allan (1924-2022), Lewis Allan (1924-2013), Iwan Bala, Charles Burton, Tony Curtis, Isabel Hitchman and Peter Wakelin in conversation with Ceri Thomas about Ernest Zobole and art in Wales since 1945’ (session two) Zobole Gallery, University of Glamorgan (May)

 

In 2014, a two-way interview between the journalist and ‘Three Lives of Dylan Thomas’ biographer Hilly Janes and myself was recorded at the National Waterfront Museum Swansea in conjunction with my ‘Placing Dylan’ exhibition and the display of the portrait ‘Dylan Thomas’ (1934) by Alfred Janes (1911-99)

2014       Audio: ‘Ceri Thomas in conversation with Hilly Janes about his art’; ‘Hilly Janes in conversation with Ceri Thomas about the art of her father, Alfred Janes’ (November)

Hilly Janes and Ceri Thomas, National Waterfront Museum Swansea, 22 November 2014
Hilly Janes and Ceri Thomas, National Waterfront Museum Swansea, 22 November 2014

 

Hilly Janes and Ceri Thomas, National Waterfront Museum Swansea, 22 November 2014
Hilly Janes and Ceri Thomas, National Waterfront Museum Swansea, 22 November 2014

In 2011, I interviewed the artist, art educator and art critic Bryn Richards (1922-2023) as part of the research for the Picorama / University of Glamorgan publication on his painting since 1937

2011       Audio: ‘Bryn Richards in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Cardiff (September)

Bryn Richards, Cardiff, 11 March 2011
Bryn Richards, Cardiff, 11 March 2011

In 2009, I organised an interview with the artist and art educator Joan Baker (1922-2017) as part of the research for the University of Glamorgan publication on her painting since 1944

2009       Audio: ‘Joan Baker in conversation with Ceri Thomas, Julie Matthews and Tiffany Oben’, Cardiff (September)

Joan Baker at her retrospective, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth (10 July 2010)
Joan Baker at her retrospective, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth (10 July 2010)

In 2007-8, I did a series of sixteen artist interviews as part of my ‘Mapping the Welsh Group at 60’ research project:

2008       Audio: ‘Islwyn Watkins (1938-2018) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Knighton (May)

Islwyn Watkins in his studio, Knighton, 18 May 2008
Islwyn Watkins in his studio, Knighton, 18 May 2008

2007       Audio: ‘Mary Fogg (1918-2012) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Llanbedrog, north Wales (December)

Mary Fogg with one of her paintings, Llanbedrog, 9 December 2007
Mary Fogg with one of her paintings, Llanbedrog, 9 December 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Robert Harding in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Llantrisant (November)

Robert Harding in his sculpture studio, Llantrisant, 26 November 2007
Robert Harding in his sculpture studio, Llantrisant, 26 November 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Keith Bayliss in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Swansea (September)

Keith Bayliss with one of his paintings, Swansea, 3 September 2007
Keith Bayliss with one of his paintings, Swansea, 3 September 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Lynne Bebb in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Mynydd-y-Garreg, Kidwelly (September)

Lynne Bebb with one of her sculptures, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, 7 September 2007
Lynne Bebb with one of her sculptures, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, 7 September 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Ivor Davies in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Penarth (September)

Ivor Davies with one of his paintings, Penarth, 21 September 2007
Ivor Davies with one of his paintings, Penarth, 21 September 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Roy Powell (1934-2022) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Brecon (September)

Roy Powell with one of his paintings, Brecon, 9 September 2007
Roy Powell with one of his paintings, Brecon, 9 September 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Alan Salisbury in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Barry (September)

Alan Salisbury with one of his pictures, Barry, 21 September 2007
Alan Salisbury with one of his pictures, Barry, 21 September 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Heather Eastes in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Goginan (August)

Heather Eastes in her studio, Goginan, 31 August 2007
Heather Eastes in her studio, Goginan, 31 August 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Clive Hicks-Jenkins in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Machynlleth (August)

Clive Hicks-Jenkins with his paintings, Machynlleth, 31 August 2007
Clive Hicks-Jenkins with his paintings, Machynlleth, 31 August 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Angela Hoppe Kingston in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Llantwit Major (August)

Angela Hoppe Kingston in her studio/study, Llantwit Major, 13 August 2007
Angela Hoppe Kingston in her studio/study, Llantwit Major, 13 August 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Dora Hurst (1925-2017) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Penarth (August)

Dora Hurst with some of her paintings, Penarth, 13 August 2007
Dora Hurst with some of her paintings, Penarth, 13 August 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Joan Isaac, widow of Bert Isaac (1923-2006), in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Abergavenny (July)

Joan Isaac in Bert Isaac's studio, Abergavenny, 30 July 2007
Joan Isaac in Bert Isaac’s studio, Abergavenny, 30 July 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Robert Macdonald in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Penpont, Brecon (July)

Robert Macdonald with his paintings, Penpont, Brecon, 30 July 2007
Robert Macdonald with his paintings, Penpont, Brecon, 30 July 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Philip Muirden (1932-2023) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Milford Haven (July)

Philip Muirden in his studio, Milford Haven, 27 July 2007
Philip Muirden in his studio, Milford Haven, 27 July 2007

2007       Audio: ‘Arthur Giardelli (1911-2009) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Warren, Pembrokeshire (April and July)

Arthur Giardelli in his gallery, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 6 April 2007
Arthur Giardelli in his gallery, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 6 April 2007

 

Arthur Giardelli in his studio, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 27 July 2007
Arthur Giardelli in his studio, Warren, Pembrokeshire, 27 July 2007

In 2005, I recorded some of the interviews I conducted for my PhD by Portfolio research on Ernest Zobole (1927-99):

2005       Audio: ‘Gwen Hughes, widow of Tom Hughes (1923-88), in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Croesyceiliog and University of Glamorgan, Trefforest (June)

2005       Audio: ‘Gwilym Prichard (1931-2015) and Claudia Williams in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Tenby (May)

Claudia Williams and Gwilym Prichard, Tenby, 29 March 2008
Claudia Williams and Gwilym Prichard, Tenby, 29 March 2008

In 2002, I recorded an interview with Michael Freeman (1936-2023) which was issued as a printed monologue under the title ‘… in the sand, … in the mud’ at his seventieth birthday retrospective exhibition ‘How it is’, Gwyn Hall, Neath, 2006

2002       Audio: ‘Michael Freeman in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Manselton, Swansea (August)

Michael Freeman with the wreck of the 'Helvetia' (20 February 2011)
Michael Freeman with the wreck of the ‘Helvetia’ (20 February 2011)

Further interviews were conducted in 2002 with other artists about their time at Swansea School / College of Art:

2002       Audio: ‘Andy Charlton (1917-2007) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Swansea (September)

2002       Audio: ‘Megan Jones (1936-2018) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Ystradgynlais (September)

2002       Audio: ‘Valerie Ganz (1936-2015) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Swansea (October)

2002       Audio: ‘Ivor Davies in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Penarth (November)

2002       Audio: ‘George Little (1927-2017) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Swansea (November)

2002       Audio: ‘Ogwyn Davies (1925-2015) in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Tregaron (December)

Ceri Thomas at the Ogwyn Davies retrospective, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, August 2022

In 1999, I recorded interviews with Tony Goble (1943-2007) and David Tinker (1924-2000) separately and together for a commissioned article I was preparing on the Welsh Group at 50 which was published in Planet: The Welsh Internationalist no 137:

1999       Audio: ‘Tony Goble in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Cardiff (June)

Janice Goble with a painting by Tony Goble, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff, 19 March 2008
Janice Goble with a painting by Tony Goble, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff, 19 March 2008

1999       Audio: ‘David Tinker in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Cardiff (June)

Paintings by David Tinker in the artist's home, Cardiff, 19 March 2008
Paintings by David Tinker in the artist’s home, Cardiff, 19 March 2008

In 1998, I recorded an interview with Alfred Janes (1911-99) which was to have been followed up by a second interview but the artist’s ill health prevented it.  Extracts of it were published in Cambria magazine. 

The analogue recording has been digitised by the National Waterfront Museum Swansea and it was played at the museum in 2014 as part of the DT100 (Dylan Thomas centenary festival) programme of events.  The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery also has a digital copy of the recording

1998       Audio: ‘Alfred Janes in conversation with Ceri Thomas’, Dulwich, London (September)

 

In 1985, I was awarded an Italian Government short-term scholarship and I recorded a three-part interview (in Italian) with Pietro Annigoni (1910-88) as an element of my MA Visual Art dissertation research

1985       Audio: ‘Pietro Annigoni parla con Ceri Thomas’, Florence, Italy (June/July)

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