Howard Roberts Gallery

In 1956, when private galleries were rare outside London, Howard Roberts (1922-2001) established his eponymous gallery in the Welsh capital. Roberts who was born in Cardiff attended Cardiff School of Art & Design , 1938-41 before seeing active service in World War II in North Africa. After demobilisation, Roberts taught art at Tiverton High School before returning to the Principality in 1955 and opening was to become Wales' most successful commercial gallery. It concentrated mainly as one would expect on Welsh art but, also showed many British artist who included Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland, Prunella Clough, Patrick Caulfield, and Bridget Riley. Welsh artists exhibited included Augustus John, Morland Lewis and Alfred Janes. The gallery was also a considerable force in developing the careers of Kyffin Williams, John Elwyn, Ernest Zobole and Will Roberts amongst many.

When London's Marlborough Fine Art wanted to set up exclusive contracts with Ceri Richards and John Piper, both would sign only if they could continue showing with Howard Roberts. As a result, Marlborough agreed commission arrangements with the gallery, and let it have work by these important painters. However, by 1970, expenditure on new premises, competition from other galleries and rising rents forced the gallery's closure. Roberts relocated to Wimbledon and took up his brush again, exhibiting post-impressionistic landscapes of Wales and Venice.