Philip Watkins Glamorgan, United Kingdom

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I'm a painter. Here's a link to little filmed interview that was done to coincide with my selection for the 2022 National Eisteddfod of Wales. https://culturecolony.com/en/media/video/y-lle-celf-2022-philip-watkins

I am interested in townscapes and the urban environment, particularly seaside resorts or industrial sites/estates and parks-anywhere where human activity comes up against nature, maybe reflecting the fact that my mother was a farmer and my father was a railwayman and I grew up in what is now, post-industrial South Wales. I also spent several years as a Youth Worker on some of Cardiff’s peripheral housing estates, where I was attracted (if that’s the right word) by a certain concrete bleakness in the architecture and atmosphere. Often the places that act as starting points for paintings have a personal association, sometimes they are just places I come across where I get a particular feeling of desertion. I studied Fine Art at Newport Art College and have done various jobs to subsidise painting/ I spent twelve years in animation – winning a BAFTA and an EMMY as part of the Siriol Animation team. I also spent some time as a Youth Worker as previously mentioned, this following on from teaching drawing to young offenders. In 2002 I stopped work to paint full time but still taught a few Adult Education classes. In 2020 I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. After intensive radio and chemotherapy and three operations I am now back painting. The operations have damaged my shoulder muscles somewhat and I have been building up my strength and stamina by principally working flat on paper as I can’t work at an easel for too long at present. I have used my sketchbooks as starting points until I can go and stand around drawing without getting tired quickly. I’ve concentrated on light and how it determines mood. I have recently been elected a member of the Welsh Group of artists. https://www.thewelshgroup-art.com/philip-watkins