A great painter of roses – Albert Williams (1922 – 2010)

The day I discovered Albert William’s paintings my life was enriched. Dramatic I know but every day I look at the prints and one original that I have collected and take great pleasure and enjoyment from their stunning beauty.

Several years ago, in a local charity shop, I saw two little prints and thought how pretty they were. I had no idea who had painted the roses but handed over my £3 for the two . I always research my rosy purchases, that is for me half the fun of buying them, so later that day found me at the computer typing in the name of Albert Williams.

When I discovered all the beautiful pictures of roses he had painted I was near to tears. They were not any rose pictures; they were beautiful. Painted in oils in a rainbow of colours they portrayed the lovely old roses I adore. I was also near to tears about a month ago when I managed to find and purchase my first original. It will not be the last.

Sadly, I discovered that he had died in 2010 in his late eighties. He painted virtually every day until the day he died and what a legacy he has left.

Albert Williams was born in Hove, Sussex on the 20th March 1922. He was the son of Arthur C. Williams, also a floral painter. His grandfather, too, was an artist and Albert studied Art under both of them. He also attended Art Schools in Brighton, London and Paris. He tried other genres of painting and is well known for them but he always returned to his floral work.

His paintings have been exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Oil Painters, the Royal Watercolour Society, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Paris Salon, the Edinburgh Festival and at numerous prestigious other galleries in London and around the country. In Art circles he was well known. It makes me regret that I had not heard of him before especially as I have loved roses for many years.

When painting roses Albert Williams always painted straight from the rose with each flower in his painting being a portrait of a particular bloom. Apparently if he did not complete a picture during the flowering season of his chosen flowers he would put it aside and wait until the next flowering season!

Since I discovered Albert Williams I have discovered more great painters of roses but I believe he will always be my favourite.