Osi Rhys Osmond

Osi Rhys Osmond (1943^[1] - 6 March 2015)^[2][3] was a Welsh painter and an occasional television and radio presenter. He was a lecturer at Swansea Metropolitan University^[4] and a member of the Arts Council of Wales.^[5]

Biography

Osi (or Olwen) Rhys Osmond^[6] came from Wattsville, Sirhowy, Caerphilly, where his family were miners.^[7] He was educated in Newport and Cardiff.^[8] He was fascinated with colour throughout his career. "Colour is the basis of my craft – I talk through colour, I speak through colour, I use colour to express myself and convey my ideas", he told the Western Mail in 2009.^[8]

In 2006, Osmond presented the Welsh-language television series, Byd o Liw, on S4C.^[9] He also presented features on BBC Radio 3.^[10][11] In March 2012, Osmond was profiled on BBC 2's The Culture Show.^[12] In June 2012 Osmond was co-presenter and mentor on the BBC Wales television series, The Exhibitionists, where participants compete to become art experts.^[4] He wrote on the visual representation of South Wales in periodicals such as Planet, New Welsh Review, Tu Chwith and Barn and Golwg. In 2006 he published Carboniferous Collisions, on the painter Josef Herman.

In April 2012 Osmond returned to the area of his youth to hold an exhibition of his paintings, in tribute to his family and the local community.^[7] Osmond lived in Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire.^[9] He became a member of the Gorsedd at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea in 2006, and was made an honorary fellow of the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David in July 2013.^[13]

Death

Osmond died on 6 March 2015, aged 71, after a long battle with cancer in Carmarthenshire. He was survived by his wife, Hilary, two sons Luke and Che from his first marriage to Linda Prime, and Hilary's daughter Sara.^[14][15]

References