Gwenny Griffiths

 How well-known is this Swansea artist – Gwenny Griffiths?

Western Mail

Published in the Western Mail, 5^th July 1922, an article entitled “A Swansea Artist”.

Miss Gwenny Griffiths was holding an exhibition at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.

Rosa Gwenny was born June 1867, at Druslyn House, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, daughter of Dr. Thomas Dryslwyn Griffiths and Frances Annette Gabb, who were married in 1866, Gloucestershire.

Thomas Dryslwyn Griffiths and Frances Annette Gabb
marriage certificate 

1871 Census, the Griffiths family were residing at 13 De Le Beche Street, Swansea

1871 Census

Thomas, 34, was a Medical Physician. Frances, 26. Rose G, 3, was the eldest of two daughters at the time, Olive M., 1.

Also present at the property was a visitor Margaret Griffiths, 30, and three servants, Jane Bevan, 25; Elizabeth Hopkins, 26 and Mary Hughes, 18.

Records via censuses for Gwenny are now limited until 1911.

However, Gwenny attended the Swansea Art School, before studying at Slade School of Art. One of her masters at the Slade was French painter, Alphonse Legros. After graduating from the Slade, Gwenny, studied at Paris at Academie Julian and the Academie Colarossi.

1892, Gwenny exhibited in London with the Society of British Artists, showing her piece titled “Madame Chrysantheme”.  Following this Gwenny regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and Royal Society of Portraits Painters.

Gwenny was a member of the Women’s International Art Club and from 1906/07 she served as the club’s honorary secretary.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Gwenny had returned to her family home, Druslyn House, Mount Pleasant. Only present at the time was her father, Thomas, 74.

1911 Census

Employed by her father were two servants, Rate Wall, 25, and Alice Mary Ridd, 20.  The census records that Alice on the night of the census was recorded at Mumbles, however, she slept that night at Druslyn

There were several boarders present as well at the address.

Thomas died in 1914.  Her mother, Frances, died in March 1938, in France.

A year before her solo exhibition at the Glynn Vivian, at the time of the 1921 census, Gwenny was living at 5 Avenue Studios, Kensington, London.

1921 Census

Gwenny went to live in Cannes, France.  At the time of the Second World War, Gwenny returned to the UK, where at the time of the 1939 Register, resided at Imperial Nursing Home, Montpellier Parade, Cheltenham.

1939 Register

Following the war, Gwenny went back to Cannes, where she died in December 1953.

Mrs. Octavia Howell,
Founder of the Swansea Orphan Home
credit - City & County of Swansea
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Collection

Roger Beck (1841- 1923), 
Benefactor of Swansea General Hospital 
credit - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg
University Health Board

Two of Gwenny’s portraits, Mrs. Octavia Howell, Founder of the Swansea Orphan Home is at the Glynn Vivian, whilst at Singleton Hospital, is a portrait of Roger Beck.