Welsh Artists: J D Innes

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James Dickson Innes (1887-1914), who had a tragically short life, is one of my favourite Welsh artists. Born at Llanelli, on the edge of industrial South Wales, as a young man he was drawn to the wild landscapes of Snowdonia, painting there in the company of Derwent Lees and the established Augustus John. The mountain Arenig held him in its spell: as Mont St Victoire was for Cézanne, so Arenig was for Innes. Having been diagnosed with tuberculosis and advised to travel abroad, he journeyed through France, spending time round Collioure, then Spain (his mother was Catalan), and on to Morocco but died soon after returning to Britain.

His work has been compared to French post-impressionism, with hints of the Fauves artists and expressionism. I value his paintings for their free, open spirit, colour and love of light (sunset especially), imbued with a romanticism that cherishes rich atmosphere while able to create a sense of peace.