Keeley Brazier
Last updated: 05 July 2007
Does anyone remember the artist and his dog, hard at work down by the harbour?
Dewina Lewis from Barmouth recalls her father's love of committing the town to canvas.
Keeley Brazier and his sketches...
My father was Keeley Brazier, a local Barmouth artist. He was first an apprentice to Coalport china works when he was young and I've collected some plates with his designs on them. He usually painted rural or sea scenes on them.
But they went into liquidation after the war and didn't take on any of their artists, so my father became a sign writer and later a town planner in London and Kinmel Bay. But Tywyn and the surrounding area remained his favourite place to paint.
He painted all the local scenes, especially the harbour. He spent a great deal of time there, sitting and painting. Everyone knew him and Buddy the dog.
He also liked painting local farm houses, usually the ones where the farmers' wives gave him a cup of tea and cake!
One of my favourite paintings is of the SS Dora. It was sunk by the Germans and was the last ship to trade at Barmouth.
I paint a little, but not to his standard. My brother is an architect though, and his and my children paint, so it's definitely in the family.
your comments
Peter Adamson from Reading
I remember Dewina Lewis (ne Brazier) and her family. I was an evacuee in Barmouth 1940-1945 and best pals with Christopher, Dewina's brother. Father, Keeley Brazier, once 'lost' his wife off the back of a motor scooter when returning home from the purchase of the machine!
Mon Jun 1 09:25:38 2009
Dave Bowen, Dudley, West Midlands
I love old paintings of Barmouth. My favourite one from AKB is of St John's Church; in the background is the town and the harbour before the old buildings made way for Woolworths and the seafront carpark was just some dunes. I've seen a lot of watercolour paintings but these look so effortless and yet somehow they make you believe that you are really there. It was Turner who said that "you can never really say that you know a place until you have painted it" and anyone who sees Barmouth in Alfred Keeley-Braizer's paintings can tell that he must have truly loved that place.
Thu Apr 9 09:09:23 2009
Dewina Lewis nee Brazier
Thank you for your comments and memories. I still live at The Gables, Barmouth. If any interested person would like to get in touch to see more paintings and sketches they're welcome.
Thu Dec 11 09:50:40 2008
chris clarke preston
About 10 years ago I received a hand painted picture from my Father. The picture was of a row of cottages in Barmouth. The back of the painting was entitled ruskin cottages and the artist's name A.Keeley Brazier, dated 26/08/65. My Grandparants displayed this painting on their living room wall, when I asked my Grandfather about the picutre he told me. he bought it from a local artist in barmouth (he visited Barnmouth many times). My farther who also enjoyed holidays in Barmouth and was entrigued by the painting set out to find out where it was painted. He managed to locate the exact spot and captured the shot of where the paining was completed, with the exception of a few changes, he stil holds the photograph today. Both my Grandparents have sadly passed away. I have recently come across the painting whilst in the loft and it stirred up all those thoughts I held as a child. The reason I am writing is that I wanted to try and make further connections, and find out more about the artist invovled in memory of my grandfarther
Mon Oct 29 10:19:04 2007
Haden Williams Byfleet Surrey
I am an "old boy bermo" son of the late H.GWilliams and remember you andyour two brothers Christopher and Robin? one joined the Merchant Navy. Your Dad gave me my first painting lesson. I have a small beautifulwatercolour of The Clock House and estuary I paint watercolour and Acrylics in local Art Group and exhibit with some sales succes.My Father was the late H.G.Williams Tailors Beach Road and Mona Cafe.My cousinPeter Crabtree lives in Llanbedr and his Sister Mary now sadly widowed in Dogellau. A wonderful experience to find this on line.
Mon Sep 17 10:26:51 2007
Joan Powell (nee Gillett) from Werxham
Dewina, I remember your dad well; he asked me what I'd like him to paint for me as a wedding present. He painted a lovely view of a sunset from the Lleyn Peninsular. I still have the painting 38 years later.
Mon Jul 30 10:08:55 2007
Judith Williams from Birmingham
Lovely to see this feature on the website about Dewina Lewis and her father. My husband, Richard Williams who had MS, spoke about you both. You were really part of the Barmouth landscape for him, and he often mentioned you even when he no longer lived in the area.
Thu Jul 26 09:37:05 2007
