Artist in oil, acrylic, pastel, pencil and wood, in which irregular shapes, pastel colours – notably blue – and graffiti were important elements. He was born in Neath, Glamorgan, and studied at Neath Tertiary College (it holds his work), under Ian Wagstaff, 1985–7; gained an honours degree at Bath College of Higher Education, 1987–90; and obtained WAC travel grants to Berlin, 1996, and New York, 1998. Mixed shows included National Eisteddfod, Conway, 1995; National Eisteddfod, Bala, 1997; and 9th Mostyn Open, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno, 1997. Solo exhibitions included Berlin Works 96 at Swansea Arts Workshop, 1997; The Future of F**k, six huge paintings at Neath Contemporary Art Gallery, Neath, 2001–2; and Oriel Washington Gallery, Penarth, 2002, when Howells was working on a collaboration with film director Marc Evans.