Personal Statement
I was born and raised in North Wales where I initially worked on a hill farm before serving for four years in the Royal Air Force. Later, during the course of a long career in psychiatric social work and associated advisory, teaching and managerial positions, I moved to my present home in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Painting was something I enjoyed in my early years until it was squeezed out by pressures of work and other commitments. The only link I maintained with art was through "therapeutic recreation" (TR), an approach that is sometimes used when trying to help mental health and other special populations with their personal difficulties. In my own practice I tried to encourage clients to participate in the arts (performance art, fine art, music, etc.,) so that they might get a sense of achievement and some improvement in their self-confidence. This gave me insight into the transformative power of releasing the innate creativity of individuals of all ages, many of whom had previously thought that they were completely void of any artistic talent.
When I reached retirement the most natural thing for me to do was to start painting again - initially as an occasional leisure activity and subsequently (from about 2005) with more serious intent. Although I am largely a self-taught artist I have been greatly assisted by participation in painting workshops, which in turn have led to modest successes in open and competitive exhibitions at both Regional and National levels. Now I have reached the point of needing a dedicated studio space to accomodate a hobby that has finally given way to a more 'professional' approach and which is requiring an almost daily commitment.
Dai Williams