Sculptor in bronze and stone, and teacher, born in Treorchy, Glamorgan, married to the textile designer Mary Gardiner. Thomas studied sculpture at Cardiff College of Art, 1947–9, having spent the war in the mines; then studied with Frank Dobson at Royal College of Art, 1949–52. Thomas taught part-time at Ealing Technical College, 1953–71, as did his wife, then returned to Wales. Mostly he was known for his portraits, often larger than life-size, but he also produced images depicting family life. Among his subjects were Aneurin Bevan the politician, Sir Geraint Evans the singer and Lord Gordon Parry. His work can be seen in Birmingham city centre, Blackburn town centre and in London and Cardiff; his last major statue was of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, unveiled at the former Great Western Railway terminus in Neyland shortly after Thomas’s death.

Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)


Do you know someone who would love this resource?
Tell them about it...