DAVID GRIFFITHS,  portrait painter, was born in Liverpool and brought up in north Wales. His artistic inheritance came from his Grandfather, also a portrait painter, whose portrait of Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone hung in Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery in 1889.

He trained at The Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London, under the direction of Sir William Coldstream, Sir Ernst Gombrich and Sir Anthony Blunt. After graduating at The Slade, he soon established himself as one of the nation's foremost portrait painters. He has painted portraits of many of the most eminent figures in contemporary society. His subjects include royalty, ambassadors, archbishops and distinguished members of the government, industry, commerce, medicine and academic and legal professions.

Among the well known portrait subjects who have sat for him are H.R.H. The Prince of Wales; William Farish, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K.; Lord Tonypandy as Speaker of the House of Commons; Lord Bernard Weatherill as Speaker of The House of Commons; Rt. Hon. Lord Callaghan, former Prime Minister of the U.K.; Lord Elwyn Jones, former Lord Chancellor; Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos; Rt. Hon. Enoch Powell O.B.E.; The Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; The Most Reverend Dr. Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales; Rt. Hon. Lord Hailsham; Archdruid James Nicholas; Archdruid Sir Cynan Evans Jones; Bryn Terfel; Sir Geraint Evans; Barry John and Sian Philllips.

The Midland Bank sponsored a major exhibition of his portrait work at The Ammanford Royal National Eisteddfod and in 2002 The National Library of Wales held a retrospective exhibition of his portraits.

News: David Griffiths Awarded Honorary Doctorate

In recognition of his talent as a portrait painter, David Griffiths has been awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Wales. Together with the physicist Dr. Lyndon Evans, he was presented with the award by The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales, Professor Marc Clement, at a ceremony in St David's Hall on Friday 28 May 2010.

Professor Marc Clement commented:

"The University is proud to celebrate the outstanding work of two people who may be from very different disciplines, but have demonstrated both the immense talent and unremitting hard work which it takes to gain such resounding success in their fields. It is a particular pleasure to award these degrees during celebrations for our new international graduates, providing them with inspiring examples of achievement to aim for in their own careers."

The Most Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Pro-Chancellor of The University of Wales commented:

"David Griffiths' portraits have their own intrinsic value, but as a body of work representing the most important Welsh people of their time, they will surely contribute to defining the way that Welsh society will be viewed by future generations."

On receiving his award David Griffiths said:

"It is both an honour and privilege to receive this award which, I would like to think, recognises the long and distinguished tradition of portrait painting in Wales. If it is also supportive of one's efforts to maintain the highest standards of figurative art, then I hope it will be an encouragement to students to develop their own observational skills through portraiture."

Recent work: 

Professor Alfred Morris CBE