Robert Thomas (1 August 1926 – 11 May 1999) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

born in

Cwmparc Cwmparc is a village and a district of the community of Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. History There is evidence of, and logic for, a medieval park, or hunting preserve, in the enclosed area called Parc Cwm Brychiniog. It lies in the ...

in the

Rhondda Valley Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( cy, Cwm Rhondda ), is a former coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley ...

. He is best known for his work in bronze sculptures, many of which are on public display. He was one of the members of the ' Rhondda Group'.

Life history

Having attended the

Cardiff School of Art Cardiff School of Art & Design (CSAD) is one of the five schools that comprise Cardiff Metropolitan University. It originated as the Cardiff School of Art in 1865. History Cardiff School of Art & Design opened in 1865 as the Cardiff School of S ...

in the late 1940s, Thomas gained entry to the

Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the United Kingdom. It offe ...

in London and lived there until 1971. Between 1953 and 1971 he taught at various art schools including Gravesend, Maidenhead and

Ealing Ealing () is a district in West London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. Ealing is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan. Ealing was histor ...

before returning to Wales to live in

Barry Barry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Barry (name), including lists of people with the given name, nickname or surname, as well as fictional characters with the given name * Dancing Barry, stage name of Barry Richards (born c. 19 ...

. Thomas received his first major commission in 1965, creating a bust of then

Secretary of State for Wales The secretary of state for Wales ( cy, ysgrifennydd gwladol Cymru), also referred to as the Welsh secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Wales Office. The incumbent is a member ...

Jim Griffiths James (Jeremiah) Griffiths (19 September 1890 – 7 August 1975) was a Welsh Labour Party politician, trade union leader and the first Secretary of State for Wales. Background and education He was born in the predominantly Welsh-speaking vill ...

. This was followed by works of Lord Edmund Davies and Welsh comic and entertainer

Ryan Davies Ryan Davies (22 January 1937 – 22 April 1977) was a Welsh comedian, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. Though his career lasted just 11 years, he became widely known in Wales through his work with Ronnie Williams as the comedic double a ...

. Thomas received several commissions that are now public works of art, with permanent residency in major city centres. These include ''Hebe'' in Birmingham city centre (at ) and ''

Aneurin Bevan Aneurin "Nye" Bevan PC (; 15 November 1897 – 6 July 1960) was a Welsh Labour Party politician, noted for tenure as Minister of Health in Clement Attlee's government in which he spearheaded the creation of the British National Health ...

'' in Cardiff. He has also produced busts, one of which, again of Aneurin Bevan, is located in the

Houses of Parliament The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace lies on the north bank ...

. Thomas's ''Mother and Child'' sculpture, commissioned for the building of a new shopping precinct at

Coalville Coalville is an industrial town in the district of North West Leicestershire, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England, with a population at the 2011 census of 34,575. It lies on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Tr ...

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...

won him the Sir Otto Beit prize for 1963. In 1999 one of Thomas' last works was unveiled, a statue of

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Isambard Kingdom Brunel (; 9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859) was a British civil engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history," "one of the 19th-century engineering giants," and "one ...

in Neyland, unveiled by Prince Charles. The bronze statue required a sum of £30,000 from a local committee.Neyland Brunel statue stolen from plinth
23 August 2010

Cardiff Sculptures

Robert Thomas sculptures are prominently displayed in Cardiff Queen Street, in the heart of the Welsh capital's shopping district. He has four on display there (i)

Nye Bevan Aneurin "Nye" Bevan PC (; 15 November 1897 – 6 July 1960) was a Welsh Labour Party politician, noted for tenure as Minister of Health in Clement Attlee's government in which he spearheaded the creation of the British National Health ...

(at the head of Queen Street, opposite the Castle); (ii) Mother and Son; (iii) The Family; and (iv) The Miner. Additionally, there is a bronze sculpture called The Girl at Gorsedd Gardens, opposite the National Museum.

Gallery of Robert Thomas work

Image:Aneurin Bevan statue Cardiff 20050707.jpg, Statue of Aneurin Bevan in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

Queen Street Image:Miners' Statue, Rhondda.jpg, Miner's Family (1993), Rhondda Valley

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Robert 1926 births 1999 deaths Modern sculptors People from Treorchy Alumni of Cardiff School of Art and Design 20th-century British sculptors Welsh male sculptors 20th-century Welsh male artists