Jack Jones was born in The Hafod, Swansea in 1922 during the Great Depression. He served in Egypt in World War II before taking up a teaching position resulting in a position as the Head of English at Barnes Grammar School. He took to painting in 1953, but it wasn’t until 1972 that he became a full-time artist.
As a self-taught artist, his inspiration came from his childhood in the heart of industrial landscape of Swansea, its characters, landscapes and warm community, specifically the miners. He is often, with some justification, described as ‘the Welsh Lowry’ and he referred to himself as ‘The Leonardo of the slag heap’. The essence of his message is community, the figures in his industrial landscapes, the terraced houses, the brooding hills, the pub and the church represent a warm real community in spite of the poverty and ill health of the time.
Sadly, Jones became a homeless alcoholic following an academic career, but recovered and resumed painting before dying in 1993. He has had successful exhibitions both in London and Swansea and his work was collected by many including Sir Anthony Hopkins and Hywel Bennett. He was represented by Attic Gallery from the late 1960s until his death in 1993.
Please find below a selection of Jack Jones’ work sold at Anthemion Auctions