Islwyn Watkins Topiary 1950s

Islwyn Watkins (1938-2018) worked mainly as a collagist, building pieces from found materials.
His biggest influences were the post war St Ives artists and the German Dada sculptor and collagist, Kurt Schwitters.

In the early 60’s Islwyn worked as an art teacher in London at Ravenscroft School.
It was during this time he met and started collaborating with the anarchist, artist and writer Jeff Nuttell.
Jeff has been described as one of the foremost social commentators of the ‘underground scenes’ of the 1960’s.
This was a time of anti-establishment and counter culture. And Islwyn and Jeff were part of a community of artists powering to make social changes through their art.

This oil on canvas is probably from his student years at Cardiff Art School when he experimented with more abstract pieces. A gorgeous colour palette and in the original frame probably built by the artist himself.

Named and signed in verso.

W 53 x H 61