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| Evan Jon |
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A greatly
respected Welsh painter who has been observing and painting his own view
of Pembrokeshire all his life. His Pembrokeshire cottages, landscapes and
the local characters that he captures in paint have a magical and idiosyncratic
quality all of their own.
Illustrated
is a Pembrokeshire cottage
made
of original materials
for
his granddaughters
In his own words:
'Born of a nervous
disposition in 1922.
From a very early
age without realising it, sketching seemed the normal thing to do...with
an awareness for colour and form. Other interests followed - geology, history,
geography, etc....
An excited schoolboy
in 1936, meeting Augustus John RA and a poet unknown to me, Dylan
Thomas
A school leaver in
the summer of 1940, my outdoor sketching activities were brought to an
abrupt halt by the local constabulary as there was a war on, and, to quote,
"they (the sketches) may fall into enemy hands".
Joining the LDV and
issued with a white armband and a Canadian Lee Enfield rifle.
No ammunition available. Night patrols on country roads followed.
The sound of enemy aircraft approaching with their desynchronised engines,
the dropping of flares etc. all added to the excitement of a recent school
leaver.
RAF volunteer November
1940, armed with an abundance of enthusiasm and a Royal Sovreign 6B pencil
(no rubber on the end) - difficult to obtain - opportunities arose in sketching
my many associates on WH Smiths blank postcards. From what I remember,
they were pretty poor, but sold like hot cakes from 6d to 1/6!
Time in the camouflage
section was very interesting where many times my presence was not
observed.
Return to Pembs in
1947. Joining my talented brother we formed a (photographic) business known
as Studio Jon.
Happily married for
thirty five years to Eleanor - sadly deceased. We have three grown up children,
Huw, Joanna and Gaynor, and two grandchildren - Laura and Katie.
1954. Painting sent
to the RA Summer Exhibition was accepted but not hung.....
Still trying to record
the mood and atmosphere of a beautiful county in oils, acrylics and pastels."
Evan Jon
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