Brushstrokes and Shutter Clicks: How Painters Influence My Photography
Like many photographers, my earliest lessons in light, colour, and composition didn’t come from a camera, but from the painters. There’s something about the emotional and visual language of painting that speaks to the soul of photography. The way artists work with space, mood, and story has always shaped the way I see the world through a lens.
I was lucky to be introduced to this way of seeing at an early age by my uncle, Islwyn Williams. Renowned in Wales and beyond for his detailed illustrations of Wild Birds and nature, he possesses a master painter’s eye and a deep understanding of light, shadow, and structure. He taught me to look beyond what was there, to notice how the light fell, how a composition could lead the eye, how stillness could speak. His lessons stayed with me and still guide every frame I compose today.
Llandudno, Wales. 2022
In my black and white work, especialy landscape, the influence of Sir Kyffin Williams is hard to miss. His dramatic, sculptural landscapes taught me how to work with contrast and form, and how monochrome can express the emotional weight of a place. His depictions of the Welsh landscape aren’t just beautiful, they’re powerful, unflinching, and true. In my own way, I try to bring that same honesty and gravity into my work.
Eglwys Cwyfan, Anglesey, Wales. 2019
When it comes to colour, I often find myself thinking of Janet Bell. Her use of bright, vibrant tones and her instinct for harmony has inspired me to see colour not just as decoration, but as a voice. Her ability to create warmth and joy through a colourful palette reminds me to look for those moments of lightness in the world around me, to celebrate colour as a story in itself.
Bangor, Wales. 2019
But if there is one artist whose paintings reaches across all my practice, it’s the late Claudia Williams. There’s something deeply human in her seaside paintings, but especially her pieces around Tryweryn.
Anglesey, Wales. 2019
Her work speaks to me both emotionally and artistically. She captures memory, loss, resistance, and resilience in a way that feels timeless.
These painters continue to teach me how to see. Not just with my eyes, but with my heart.
July 2025