Matt Williams

Matt was born in Brecon and lived and farmed on the hills of the Brecon Beacons before becoming an artist. Originally self-taught he later completed a Masters degree at Cardiff School of Art and Design.

His work connects the beauty of the natural landscape of Wales with the lived human experience of the Welsh people. Working in oils, he seeks not only to capture the essence of the physical, its geographical contours and textured terrains, but also to invite the viewer into a deeper emotional and historical dialogue with the land. He weaves visual stories that reflect the soul of Wales: its history, culture, and socio-political struggles.

He is particularly drawn to the losses of Wales, and the Welsh response to them: the eroded cultural heritage, the stolen landscapes, and the exploitation of the land, resources, and people. He believes the landscape sings of these losses, and when he paints them, it enables him to feel the colour, form, and texture of a landscape physically and viscerally. Matt’s role as an artist is to translate that song into a narrative that allows the viewer to form their own personal, yet equally profound, connective experience – not only with the land itself, but with the stories it holds.

His paintings have won several awards, and he exhibits widely across Wales.