your comments
Alun Jones from camberley
In his class from 1967 to 1972. Utterly brilliant man. Only regret now is not having one of his paintings.
Mon Sep 8 09:41:54 2008
David Johnston
Sir Hywel Harries was absolutely inspirational. He tried to teach me art in the early to mid 1970s. He was always a bit different from the other teachers. I remember (when Ardwyn was merging with Penglais and the Headmaster was sharing his time between the two sites) passing the staff-room noticeboard and seeing a blank piece of paper pinned to it. At the bottom it said "The Headmaster, from memory. Hywel Harries".
I was useless at art. I knew it. He knew it. I used to muck about and waste paint like most during the practical sessions ("baked bean...baked bean" he used to shout if anyone had a squirt of paint any larger than a baked bean on their pallette). But I knew that there was a big difference between the "art" that we were trying to create and the true art of the Masters that he introduced us to - Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael, Vermeer etc. The History of Art sessions that he conducted were priceless - and looking back on them - pretty definitive - as a great introduction to The Masters - he told us not only what to see, but also what it meant.
My lack of talent never made any difference to Hywel Harries - he always treated me (a stupid schoolboy) with respect and I learned to love and respect art from him.
Tue Apr 15 09:19:46 2008
Janet Sutton, Aberystwyth
Does anyone know what has happened to the 2 murals Hywel Harries painted - they hung one either end of the Ardwyn Grammar School canteen (which has been demolished)- one was a composite of Aberystwyth and the other a composite of Cardiganshire.
Tue Mar 4 14:29:28 2008
Simon Hughes - Talybont
Hywel Harris, throughout my years at Ardwyn, constantly told me that I was the worst pupil that he had ever taught. Since then I have met half a dozen ex pupils who had identical experiences. I was never artistically inclined but I have had one of his paintings of the Cwmystwyth Mine hanging on the wall of my office since 1987. It is a very skillful depiction of the continually changing sunlight and shade over a grey wilderness.
Mon Nov 5 08:55:10 2007
Vivian Fox, Suffolk
Hywel was my art teacher and year tutor and I always remember his lectures on art history, I just wish I had been a better pupil for such a great teacher.
Mon Oct 29 11:10:24 2007
David Clues from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
During one of his art double periods we (the boys) had decided to cough slight obsenities behind his back - daren't do it to his face for fear of a clout across the skull! I coughed in a shouting sort of way "brassiere" to which he turned around and demanded to know who had "made that noise" after a while and a terrible threat to the whole class I sheepishly put my hand up. He questioned what I had shouted, my reply was "Glacier, sir. Glacier mint." His entry on my end of year report was simply "Takes my subject as a joke."
Thu Sep 27 12:31:12 2007
Dewi Jones, Talybont
To explain the full story about my not knowing that Hywel Harris had sent my work to the National Eisteddfod. The first I knew about it was when I received an invitation from the BBC congratulating me on my win and inviting me to go on a programme I beleive was called "All your own" and went on air on Sunday afternoon. I was also advised that I had to wear a shirt that was not brilliant white. I couldnt afford to go.
Tue Jan 30 17:00:06 2007
Dewi Jones from Talybont
Hywel Harris took me through my O level Art in 57 and I started studying A level with him. He entered some of my pottery in the National Eisteddfod and I won gwobr gyntaf (first prize). I didnt even know that he'd entered my work, Great man!
Sun Jan 21 12:29:08 2007
Janice Lewis( Spear), London
Hywel Harris taught me Art at Ardwyn 1969-1973. He was an engaging man with great energy and enthusiasm for Art. He never gave up encouraging us and left me with the feeling that you could do it just keep trying! I remember that he was really quite dramatic and passionate about our art work, art in general, the care of the art room and resources. He really loved the subject which was inspirational. An incredibly memorable teacher to whom I am very grateful for teaching me so much!
Mon Dec 18 09:34:28 2006
Robin Varley, Aberystwyth
I worked with Hywel for several years at Penglais School - and shared an office with him for a couple years when we were 'Year Tutors.' He was an incredibly kind man and had genuine but gentle sense of humour, epitomised in his cartoons, which he could drum up at a moment's notice. He did not wear the frustrations of his job too calmly and I still have a mental image of Hywel on a particularly bad Friday afternoon with steam coming out of his ears! He was cruelly taken from us far too early - and at a time when he was able to devote himself full-time to his considerable talents.
Mon Dec 11 09:17:01 2006
Jane Stewart, Birmingham
I too attended Ardwyn Grammar School in the early 70's and remember Hywel Harries as an inspirational and talented teacher. I remember staying behind for extra art lessons where we would use the oven to make exciting enamelled jewellery to take home. As an archaeologist and illustrator working in a Museum & Art Gallery I have often been grateful that HH was one of the first to encourage my love of art, and I found his lessons a welcome break from other less appealing subjects.
Thu Sep 14 17:38:24 2006
Mark Warner
Hywel Harris, Mr Jones and Mr Passmore...Penglais... yes memories there. I remember that old radio in the classroom, ELO and Radio 1, making a canoe out of fibre glass in the pottery room. Mr Harris setting many an essay from Gombrich 'story of art' and after all that... guess what? Yes I am an artist and have been a Head of Art at a secondary school for many a year now. He must have done something right!
Mon Jul 31 11:23:31 2006
John Rees, Aberystwyth
Ardwyn Grammar School 1965 - 1971. Eccentric genius - HH was a friend of my grandmother (Tina Hutchings) of the Bon Bon sweet shop Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, but it still didn't stop him walloping me for being a lousy artist!
Wed Jun 28 09:54:37 2006
Emlyn Lumley, London
Crazy man. Talented cartoonist. At Ardwyn from 1969, I was too wasteful with the glue - "Marrrrr Vinnnn Medium overuse - instant fine ten pee!" So he banned me from art in my first year - I had to go work in the Sixth Form area (and he called that a punishment? Hadn't he even seen Lindy Martin or Sally Pearson?) I now own one of his paintings - of Aberystwyth under snow, at night, from the National Library. Fond memories. Crazy man. Inspirational in his off-beat kind of way.
Mon Jun 5 17:38:45 2006
Dave from Melksham
I remember the arrival of "the new artist" at Ardwyn. He quickly made his mark and introduced numerous innovations including pottery. A marvelous teacher who could inspire even the worst artist ie me. His passing was missed by many.
Fri Mar 24 21:36:11 2006
Ken Jones, Aberystwyth
I remember Hywel Harries well, as my Art Teacher at Ardwyn Grammar school between 1967 and 1972. Unfortunately, as I was invariably clowning around in his classes, I deservedly got the brunt of his wrath on a regular basis, culminating in me being 'banned' from the art room 'for life'. Despite the classroom 'difficulties' I remember him as a warm, friendly man, with boundless energy for his first love; Art. His drawings and paintings were wonderful, and I remember feeling quite sad, when this talented man was no longer with us.
Fri Feb 10 15:51:18 2006
Karon from Yorkshire
I remember HH teaching us art at Penglais, He would get a paintbrush and dip it in black paint and then paint all over your hard work if he thought it was not good enough. Sadly he did not bring out the artist in me and I have been reluctant to give painting a try ever since. Anyone remember Mr Passmore ?
Tue Dec 13 17:33:08 2005
Sian, Aberystwyth
I remember Mr. Hywel Harris when I was in Penglais in the mid 1970s. He very kindly drew a cartoon in my autograph book before I left Penglais. I wonder if it is worth anything now? He did not teach me art but he did show me how to mend spines on text books!
Mon Dec 12 16:33:02 2005
Howard Jones from Albury Australia
Hywel Harries tried to teach me art from 1956 to 1963 and got me an O-Level after three attempts. He drew a wonderful mural based on Aber scenes, which, I think, was in the school canteen. Does the mural survive, I wonder? I was also on the Cambrian News staff when he drew a weekly cartoon. I think he also illustrated some children's books or magazines.
Wed Sep 7 07:26:12 2005
John Dight, Phoenix AZ
Hywel Harris was one of two Art TeachersI had in Penglais along with Jones Art. He was famous for saying doooooo before having a fit at someone. I remember one poor classmate he told to go into the back store room and get piece of scrap material for a project he was working on. Unfortunately he found Hywell's Persian rug that was anything but scrap and took a piece out of that by mistake! I bought one of Hywel's 50p art books for charity and it is one of the few books and memories I still keep of Penglais. I love trying to place the pictures, keep 'em coming.
Sat Aug 27 04:54:18 2005
David Thomas London
Hywel Harries was my art teacher at Ardwyn in the late 1950s and I remember when he introduced pottery classes into lessons. We had a number of potters wheels and kilns in our Art room. Thinking back, he was a magician at obtaining funding from the Education Authority in those days. A super teacher and a "lovely" man.
Thu Jul 21 16:34:05 2005
Ron Lewis from Aberystwyth
I'll never forget Hywel Harries. He made my first day at Ardwyn Grammar School as a ten year old a total misery in 1959. Harries slapped me across the head for "talking in class."
Sun Jun 19 21:14:50 2005
sam gilmore
funny guy
Tue May 10 12:19:37 2005
Iestyn Jones from Aberystwyth
My father taught art with Mr.Harries at Penglais (Jones Art) and had known him for years. Mr. Harries was a great cartoonist. I'll always remember him as an energetic and funny man.
Sat May 7 10:12:54 2005
David Rowlands from Canberra
Hywel Harries was my teacher in Ardwyn in the mid-1960s. Every week he had a small reproduction of a classic work from some master or other as 'painting of the week'. This was placed on the wall of the Art classroom and each pupil was expected to make some notes about it in a small 'Art notebook' we each had to keep. Whereas, at the time, this requirement was universally detested by the kids, I now find that, when I occasionally see them, I recognise these works with considerable affection. HH also had a short TV programme, in Welsh, giving art instruction to children. Above all, I remember his injunction one week not to draw mountains 'fel plwm puddings' as he showed with a sweep of the pen what an unsatisfactory drawing of a mountain that would make. As for my art skills, I am afraid I went on to do physics and then public administration ...
Fri Apr 15 04:10:02 2005
James London
Hywel Harries was my art teacher firstly at Ardwyn and then at Penglais. He was one of the most memorable of my teachers with a real passion for the subject and an incredible talent.I shall always be indebted to him for teaching me the art of calligraphy, something from which I have gained a lot of pleasure over the years and still do to this day. Although I only just scraped through 'A' Level Art and Design the two years in the 6th Form at Penglais were only bearable due to the hours we spent in the art room doing our course work. He had a great tolerance for pupils but I think we sometimes pushed him too far, but as he often said we were "wretched boys"!
Thu Apr 7 16:52:33 2005
Keith Morris, Photographer, Aberystwyth
I was at Ardwyn Grammar school in the early 70's and Hywel Harris was my art teacher. I can still hear his voice threatening us with an 'Instant Fine' if we ever were wasteful with materials, paper and paint. The art classes were always interesting and he was a passionate teacher.
Mon Apr 4 15:12:36 2005
Angela from Chepstow
Hywel Harries, or Sir as he was known to me back then, was a wondeful teacher of Art. Sadly my artistic skills were and still are non existant, however, he would always take the time to develop and encourage even the most lacking pupils.
A very kind and patient teacher, he ranks up there with the very best of Penglais teachers.
Fri Apr 1 09:26:37 2005
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The founding member of Cardiganshire Art Society who taught at Ardwyn Grammer School and Penglais School.