AN ART gallery near Chester is offering art lovers the opportunity to see previously unseen work by one of Wales's most celebrated artists Sir Kyffin Williams OBE, RA.

The exhibition being staged at Gorstella Gallery in Dodleston near Chester opens with a drinks reception on Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21 from 6.30pm - 9pm and the gallery will then be open on Saturday 22, Sunday 23, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 April between 11am and 5pm.

It will also also feature 30 new paintings by Wirral based artist Matthew Snowdon, which will be exhibited alongside other classic pieces of contemporary Welsh art by artists including William Selwyn, Donald McIntyre, David Lloyd Griffith, David Woodford and Will Roberts.

Born in Llangefni in 1918, Sir Kyffin Williams is widely regarded as the defining 20th Century artist of Wales. His works typically drew inspiration from the Welsh landscape and farmlands. Many of his paintings may be seen in a permanent exhibition in the Oriel Kyffin Williams Gallery which opened in 2008 at Oriel Ynys Môn in Llangefni as well as at many other galleries elsewhere in Britain.

North Wales Chronicle: Port Padrig, Anglesey by artist Matthew SnowdenPort Padrig, Anglesey by artist Matthew Snowden (Image: Matthew Snowden)

He was president of the Royal Cambrian Academy and was appointed a member of the Royal Academy in 1974. In 1995 Williams received the Glyndŵr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales during the Machynlleth Festival. He was awarded the OBE for his services to the arts in 1982 and was knighted in 1999.

The National Library of Wales was one of the first national institutions to purchase one of his works in the late forties and continue to support his work throughout his life. In acknowledgement of his gratitude for their support he bequeathed them his papers and a significant body of his works to the National library. They now hold probably the largest single body of his works. Art work by Williams is also held in many public collections, including the Government Art Collection, the Arts Council Collection and the National Museum of Wales.

North Wales Chronicle: Calling for a measure by Malcolm Taylor.Calling for a measure by Malcolm Taylor. (Image: Paul Crofts)

Gorstella Gallery owner Bridget Kimber said: "We are delighted to be staging our Spring Exhibition which will feature previously unseen work by renowned Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams as well as paintings by other popular artists, some of our regular exhibitors and new artists. The exhibition offers an extremely rare and exciting opportunity to view and own paintings by Sir Kyffin who is regarded as one of the finest 20th Century painters of the Welsh landscape."

Other artists whose work is being featured include Matthew Snowden who has been successfully exhibiting his paintings at Gorstella Gallery since 2008. Matthew’s inspiration is drawn from the rugged coastline of Britain, Ireland and Wales. His obsession with the raw beauty of these landscapes is fuelled by their ancient history and ever- changing light with paintings of North Wales, the Dee Estuary, Thurstaston and Scotland at the upcoming exhibition.

Malcom Taylor, who has a career spanning over forty years, is a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, The Pastel Society and President of Manchester Academy of Fine Art. His work can be found in collections in several countries including the UK, USA, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

Lucy Almey Bird is a completely self-taught artist who will be making her Gorstella Gallery debut. Lucy was encouraged to draw and paint from an early age, as her parents are both creative people, and she was taken on regular trips to galleries and museums which ignited her passion for art. Art took a back seat while she raised her three daughters, who now they are older, provide much of her inspiration along with her pets, the countryside and family life in general.

Full details of the Spring Exhibition at Gorstella Gallery can be found at www.gorstellagallery.co.uk.