Artist to the stars: How one of Wales' finest painters is finally being honoured
With its contrast of light and darkness and its brooding religious theme, "The Devil's Daughter" could have been painted by Caravaggio.
When the painting went on display at the Royal Academy in 1917 it caused a sensation and created worldwide headlines.
In later years, it is claimed, it hung in the recording studio of rock band Black Sabbath. Now it is owned by a collector from Pontypridd.
But the Welsh artist who painted it was scarcely remembered in her home land, until now.
On Saturday (21 June), a headstone will be unveiled at the final resting place of Margaret Lindsay Williams - a spot which was previously marked by a simple plaque.
Dr Jonathan Hicks, the historian who led the headstone campaign, said it is about time the artist was recognised.
"It won't be a sad day, unlike most occasions that take place in cemeteries', he said.
'This is about a celebration of her life.'
'It's about recognising the talent she had. The impact she made nationally, not least on Welsh art.'
Margaret Lindsay Williams was born in 1888 in Cardiff but her family soon moved to Barry, where they lived on Windsor Road.
She studied at the Cardiff School of Art and later at London's Royal Academy, becoming the youngest student - and the first Welsh artist - to win the prestigious gold medal.
An important early work was 'The Welsh National Service at Westminster Abbey'. It took Williams three years to paint and now hangs in Cardiff Crown Court.
But some of Williams' early work was more introspective.
'The Devil's Daughter' was followed by two similar canvases: 'The Triumph' and 'The Imprisoned Soul".
All depict themes of spiritual conflict and the tension between vice and virtue. Paul Buckland bought 'The Devil's Daughter' from a gallery in the US.
'Not being a religious person at all, I just like the idea of somebody saying 'no, I'm going to go and have fun. I'm not going to go to church', he said.
'But it's also what it represents - a strong feminist painting by a Welsh painter.'
From the mid 1920s, Williams concentrated on portraits, becoming one of high society's most sought after artists.
She painted King George V, Queen Mary, and - on five separate occasions - Queen Elizabeth II.
She was also commissioned to produce childhood portraits of the current King - Charles III - and his sister, Princess Anne.
Williams said this process inspired a love of art in the four-year-old Charles - he turned up to one sitting wearing overalls and with a set of brushes.
The young Prince even presented her with his own paintings. Williams described them as being 'very modern school,' although she had to ask Charles what the pictures were of - 'a forest' and 'a house' apparently.
Alongside her royal work, Williams was also asked to paint other famous faces of her day. Her subjects included Prime Minister David Lloyd George and Ivor Novello, the Welsh composer.
She also crossed the Atlantic to paint automobile tycoon Henry Ford and even Warren Harding, the US President.
It is reported that Harding sat for her on 18 separate occasions, although the sessions were often interrupted by state business. Williams later said the President had asked her if she had ever been in love, to which she replied: 'Oh, Mr President, I am wedded to my art.'
In fact, Margaret never married. She died in 1960 at her home in St John's Wood, London.
She was buried in Barry's Merthyr Dyfan cemetery but until now, there has been no permanent marker of her final resting place.
'I thought it really didn't seem fair that this woman was lying in an unmarked plot in Barry cemetery', said Dr Hicks.
'I went away and mused on it for a while and spent some time researching her life, found it to be absolutely fascinating, and then decided that I would launch a fundraising appeal.'
The appeal raised more than £2,000 and saw a headstone created by CJ Ball memorial masons of Barry.
It will be unveiled at a special ceremony on Saturday - in the week marking Williams' birthday.
Barry's mayor will be among those present, together with six members of the artist's family, who have travelled over from Canada.
It is a fitting tribute to one of Barry 's greatest daughters. A painter of monarchs and presidents who never forgot her roots.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island game of ‘spin the bottle' kicks off as Tommy snogs TWO girls – and Megan is left fuming
Sunday night's episode looks to be a corker - literally SNOGGING HELL Love Island game of 'spin the bottle' kicks off as Tommy snogs TWO girls – and Megan is left fuming LOVE Island will be thrown into chaos with a messy game of 'spin the bottle' on Sunday. In the teaser clip for Sunday night, everything kicked off and heated up between the singles as they played the raunchy game. Advertisement 5 Shakira could be seen smooching Harry Credit: Eroteme 5 She also seemingly kissed Tommy Credit: Eroteme 5 He also seemingly smooches with Emily, too Credit: Eroteme 5 The game looks as though it will be explosive on Sunday night Credit: Eroteme Playing the iconic game of Spin the Bottle, the Islanders could be seen donning their bikinis and Speedos as they took turns in spinning the giant bottle. In the brief clip, it was clear that Tommy snogged Welsh beauty Emily as Irish beauty Megan looked on in horror. Tommy is coupled with Megan, but now it looks like there might be tension between the two. He then sensationally smooched Shakira as well. Advertisement Meanwhile, the real bombshell of the game looked to be Shakira's steamy smooch with Harry. In the teaser clip's edit, it seemed as though the Islanders were asked to snog who they'd most like to be coupled up with. It then cut to Shakira smooching Harry as Helena and Ben looked at their current love interests with disgust. "Is that Shakira and Harry kissing?" said one viewer in reaction to the teaser clip. Advertisement "Shakira and Harry that kiss? no way so she dumped Ben for Harry? This is Crazy. can't wait for Sunday Night," penned a second. "Was that Shakira kissing Harry?" asked a third, in disbelief. Watch moment Harry reveals he's FAKING his feelings for Shakira to stay in the Love Island villa This came after Harry and Shakira rekindled their romance aid "unfinished business" following his hideaway moment with Helena at the start of the series. In Friday night's episode, Harry made a move for Shakira again and even told her she's "The One". Advertisement Pulling Shakira for a chat, Harry asks how she's feeling. "Initially, you were number one for me," Harry said in a candid way to the stunning brunette. He then said that he doesn't think he would do the things he does if they were together, because she "wouldn't stand for it". "It was you," Shakira confessed, "And still is you. But it's your behaviour for me that I can't tolerate." Advertisement Harry then admitted that he wanted to spend some more time with her and rekindle what they had at the start. "If that could possibly be arranged?" he pleaded. Shakira then said: "It could be arranged." 5 The game will air on Sunday night Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ruth Jones ‘wept down phone' to friends as she struggled with lasting problem
EXCLUSIVE: Actor and author Ruth Jones had several emotional ordeals that to wrestle with in recent years, one which left her sobbing on the phone Gavin and Stacey creator Ruth Jones struggled to cope with her menopausal weeping fits and mood swings in the latter years of her failing marriage. The writer and actress, 58, announced this week that she had split from her estranged husband David Peet after 26 years together. She revealed that they had actually legally separated some 18 months ago. Peet is now living in Canada and has even found a new partner. However, this is not the only emotional ordeal that Ruth had to wrestle with in recent years. The Welsh star – best known as Nessa Jenkins in the BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey which she co-wrote with James Corden – has admitted she would 'weep down the phone' to friends while she was going through the menopause in her early 50s. This is because she could not deal with her mood swings. She revealed: 'I think the menopause is a really strange experience to go through and I think, partly, I thought 'Oh it won't happen to me'. 'My mum used to say to me 'I don't know what all the fuss is about. I don't think I ever went through the menopause'. And I say 'Mum you must have done'. 'When I started to go through the menopause I was completely amazed by how it affected my moods and I'd be on the phone to one of my best friends and I'd be weeping on the phone 'I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm a different person'. 'And it was really astonishing and I started HRT and almost over night it kind of went away.' Ruth opened up about her struggles going through 'the change' at a literary talk in Bath in Somerset to promote her new book By Your Side at the end of May. Ironically, the novel's main character, Linda Standish, is a divorced plus-size woman in her 50s. Ruth admitted there have been discussions to turn the story into a TV drama and she claimed she would love to play the lead role. She said: 'A lot of people and early readers have said to me 'Who would you get to play these characters like Linda?' Well I am not going to lie. I'm in my 50s and I'm a plus-size woman.' The writer – who is set to appear in a new BBC drama about Jane Austen next year – admitted, however, that she has no plans to write a comedy about women going through the menopause. She added: 'I wouldn't know how to articulate anything about menopause. 'One of my characters in my book Love Untold is about to go into the menopause. She is about that time in her life. Seeing characters going through the menopause is interesting but I don't know how I'd write about it in a funny way. ' Davina McCall has done stuff and talked about it. It's more about communication. I mean you don't want to go out and talk about anything personal all the time and shove it down everyone's throats but on the other hand it is good so people don't feel alone and think 'Oh my god this is only happening to me'.' Ruth also said that although she and James had penned the final ever episode of Gavin and Stacey, which went out last Christmas and drew an audience of 19 million viewers, the show was still going on - in her head. She added: 'With Gavin and Stacey, I think that Nessa is still working down the slots. I think she is very much still there. And I think Pam is still having fencing lessons.'
Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Wales Online
Race Across the World stars Sioned and Fin share relationship update after almost calling it quits
Race Across the World stars Sioned and Fin share relationship update after almost calling it quits The winners of this year's Race Across the World were announced last week, with mother-and-son duo Caroline and Tom Bridge taking home the £20,000 prize Last week, viewers of Race Across the World were gripped as the finale revealed this year's winning team. Although they didn't start strong, Caroline and Tom Bridge turned their fates around, ultimately seizing the £20,000 jackpot. Hot on their heels, only 19 minutes later, were siblings Elizabeth and Letitia, with the pair Sioned and Fin coming next, and brothers Brian and Melvyn coming in fourth. Audiences have been witness to all the pairs being pushed to their limits throughout the races, with Sioned and Fin, the youngest duo, finding aspects of the journey particularly difficult. In the upcoming reunion show, the Welsh couple will share updates on their relationship and recount their experiences from the race, reports Plymouth Live. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Race Across the World's Fin and Sioned share relationship update as they detail 'challenge' (Image: BBC ) Sioned explained to viewers of the BBC: "I think there were many times in India where I thought, 'I can't do this, I need to go home, not want to but I need to because this is too much'." But she expressed her relief, saying, "But, I'm really glad I just stuck it out because experiencing it has been really valuable." Article continues below During a discussion with fellow racers, the now 20-year-old shared how the challenge had fostered personal growth. She said: "It's built us as people. It's tough doing something like this in a relationship, but I do think it made us stronger." Fin responded: "It was a good way to see if we can do it forever, or this isn't for us, let's split up. But that wasn't the case, we are still together, and we're going well. I think that was a big challenge and the best challenge we could've had together." While Sioned and Fin may not have triumphed in the series, viewers were happy to see the mother-son duo take the win. TITLE:Race Across the World S5,EP NUMBER:8,TX DATE:11-06-2025,TX WEEK:23,EMBARGOED UNTIL:11-06-2025 22:01:01,PEOPLE:Tom and Caroline,DESCRIPTION:Embargoed until post TX8 22.01:01 Wednesday 11th June 2025.,COPYRIGHT:Studio Lambert,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert Caroline expressed her joy about the victory: "It feels absolutely amazing, I'm so sad it's come to the end, that is the worst bit about it. We've enjoyed being with everybody, but my God, this race has meant so much. Article continues below "We've learnt so much, we've enjoyed it, and to actually win it as well as to have the experience is the best thing that could have happened to us." Tom said of the experience: "Doing the experience in itself is winning, but to actually get to that book first, open it, and see that it was empty was something that I'll remember for the rest of my life."
