Ian H Watkins

Raised in the Rhondda Valleys, Ian’s connection to the Welsh landscape runs through every brushstroke. As a child, he has was given a set of watercolours at just six years old, and in his early years would sketch and paint the mists and mountains around his home, inspired by artists such as Turner and Kyffin Williams.

After global success with Steps, Ian reconnected with painting as a form of grounding and rediscovery. That return to art marked not a reinvention, but a homecoming, and a continuation of the creative path that began long before fame.

Working primarily in acrylic layered with pastel, charcoal and gold leaf, he builds rich, tactile surfaces that mirror the rugged textures of the land.

He often paints on location across Wales, sometimes gathering sand, soil, and fragments of earth to mix into the surface of his canvases, making his paintings a literal extension of the land itself. Each piece is a sensory experience of changing light, wild beauty, mood and memory.

At the heart of his work lies the Welsh concept of hiraeth (or haeraeth): a word for longing and belonging that has no direct English translation. It is both a yearning for home and a celebration of the deep emotional pull of place. Ian’s paintings are steeped in this feeling. They are portraits not just of landscape, but of identity and emotion.

Ian’s expressive mark-making and restrained palette place him within the lineage of modern Welsh landscape painters, echoing the emotive force of artists such as Kyffin Williams, Griffin Williams and contemporary figure F. N. Lewis.

His work is recognisably his own: raw, instinctive and authentic. Dramatic skies, layered horizons, and gilded highlights lend his paintings a cinematic quality, yet they remain intimate and deeply human.

Ian has exhibited widely across the UK, including solo exhibitions in Wales and England, and has built a growing following among collectors including many well-known public figures.

He has served as a selector for the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition and the Welsh Contemporary Art Exhibition, helping champion emerging talent. His art and creative journey have also been featured nationally on BBC’s The One Show, bringing his work to a broad audience.

Beyond the canvas, Ian remains deeply connected to his roots. He dedicates significant time and energy to charitable work within the Welsh Valleys, helping to establish community initiatives and supporting local causes close to his heart including work with autistic and dyslexic children.

He recognises the privilege of his position and uses it to uplift others, particularly within the communities that shaped him. His art, generosity and advocacy are all extensions of the same impulse: to nurture creativity, connection and hope.