News & Events

SPRING 2024

New History of Welsh Art published

Tuesday, 29th March 2016

The first comprehensive single-volume History of Welsh Art, called 'The Tradition', has now been published. Covering the years 1400-1990, the very substantial and beautifully produced work is written by Wales's foremost art historian Peter Lord and is packed with colour illustrations, many of previously unpublished paintings.


This is a very significant milestone in the history of the visual culture of Wales and one which represents a coming-together of over 25 years of diligent research by the author. It is highly recommended to all those with an interest in the art and history of the Welsh people.


Very reasonably priced at £35, a limited number of copies are available from the gallery. It is widely available at all good bookshops or direct from the publishers Parthian Press - for details please
click here

Welsh Art discoveries

Wednesday, 3rd February 2016

Over the course of the last year, I have made several important and exciting discoveries in the field of historical Welsh paintings. These include a monumental view of Llanberis Pass by Hugh Hughes (1847), Richard Wilson's earliest extant professional portrait (1738), an exceptionally early and detailed birds-eye view of Caernarfon (c. 1730) and the Monmouthshire artist Thomas Tudor's only known oil portrait (1819). Images of these, together with basic details, appear on the FINDS section on this website. Detailed information is available on all of them, upon request.




Lastest discovery - an important oil portrait by William Parry A.R.A - entirely unknown and the first to emerge since I wrote the biography of the painter in 2008. This will also appear in the FINDS section when sold.

EXHIBITION - Ludlow & South Shropshire

Wednesday, 27th May 2015

From Friday 12 June the gallery will be staging a selling exhibition of original paintings and drawings of Ludlow and South Shropshire. These mostly date between 1830 and 1930 and range from a large and dramatic mid-19thc prospect of the town from the north-west, in oils, to a small pen and ink view looking over the Linney from the north, drawn around 1831. In addition to depictions of the town itself, there are also paintings of various local villages and landmarks by the highly accomplished F. M Finch of Craven Arms who was painting between the 1930's and 1970's.


The exhibition also features examples of the work of two of the most celebrated artists living in the town in the first half of the 19th century - a very fine portrait miniature of 1820 by William Gwynn of Corve Street, and a highly accomplished oil painting of Abergavenny by William Ward Gill who lived in the Linney. One of the more unusual pictures is a silhouette of the Rev. Richard Baugh, Rector of Ludlow in the Regency period.


Prices of exhibits range from £100 to £5000. These are not on the gallery website but a list is available and images/details of specific items will be sent upon request. Please note that nothing will be sold until the exhibition opens but previews may be possible by prior arrangement.


Everyone is warmly welcomed to come and see some fascinating historic views of the town and district. Please note that the exhibition runs at the same time as the Ludlow Fringe Arts Festival which promises a fantastic schedule of events. For further information please click here.


The exhibition will run until Saturday 11th July.

Burton Court Antiques Fair

Saturday, 18th April 2015

I will be exhibiting for the first time at the forthcoming Burton Court Antiques Fair, on Sunday 17th May (10 a.m-5 p.m). Burton Court is near the village of Eardisland, south-west of Leominster and must rank as one of the most attractive settings for an antiques fair in Britain. You approach up a wooded drive, park on a sweeping lawn and the fair is partly in a marquee by this romantic and historic country house, and partly inside it. I will be showing a selection of pictures, mostly watercolours, in a large and light room within the house and am looking forward to a busy day getting to know more local dealers and meeting new clients.


This is a really nice fair with a very broad mix of tradtional, quirky and decorative antiques - to those familiar with them, it is a cross between the Bath Decorative Fair and Vincent Square. There is certainly plenty to be found by those looking for bargains as well as the the more discerning collector. Oh, and there is also a very nice cafe serving home-make cakes.


For more details please click here

A Year in Ludlow

Saturday, 21st February 2015

Today is the first anniversary of opening in Ludlow. The sun is shining and looking back over the past twelve months there is much to be optimistic about. Business has been good both locally and with old clients and the welcome from the town has been warm. The set-up of the gallery, within the house, has worked well and my window displays always attract a lot of interest from passers-by. This summer I will be putting on an exhibition of original paintings of Ludlow and the surrounding area which I hope will be of real interest to people living here whether or not they are art-buyers. I am also exhibiting at the Burton Court Antiques Fair in May which I hope will be a good promotional event (and with any luck there may be some sales too). Personally, I am much happier in Ludlow and in my own gallery and I look forward to the coming of spring and all that the next year will bring.

Miles Wynn Cato. Mobile: 07766 460127.