Robert Thomas

Education

Having attended the Cardiff School of Art in the late 1940s, Thomas gained entry to the Royal College of Art in London and lived there until 1971.

Career

He is best known for his work in bronze sculptures, many of which are on public display. Between 1953 and 1971 he taught at various art schools including Gravesend, Maidenhead and Ealing before returning to Wales to live in Barry. Thomas received his first major commission in 1965, creating a bust of then Secretary of State for Wales, Jim Griffiths.

This was followed by works of Lord Edmund Davies and Welsh comic and entertainer Ryan Davies.

Thomas received several commissions that are now public works of art, with permanent residency in major city centres. These include Hebe in Birmingham city centre (at 52484438°North 1892175°West / 52484438.

-1892175) and Aneurin Bevan in Cardiff. He has also produced busts, one of which, again of Aneurin Bevan, is located in the Houses of Parliament.

In 1999 one of Thomas" last works was unveiled, a statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel in Neyland, unveiled by Prince Charles.

The bronze statue required a sum of £30,000 from a local committee. Robert Thomas sculptures are prominently displayed in Cardiff Queen Street, in the heart of the Welsh capital"s shopping district. Additionally, there is a bronze sculpture called The Girl at Gorsedd Gardens, opposite the National Museum.

Achievements

• Thomas"s Mother and Child sculpture, commissioned for the building of a new shopping precinct at Coalville, Leicestershire won him the Sir Otto Beit prize for 1963.

Membership

He was one of the members of the "Rhondda Group".