Glenys Cour facts for kids

Glenys Irene Cour MBE (born Carthew, 6 January 1924) is a famous Welsh artist. She is known for her colourful paintings, stained glass, and collages.

About Glenys Cour

Early Life and Education

Glenys Cour was born in Fishguard, Wales, on January 6, 1924. She loved art from a young age. From 1945 to 1948, she studied at Cardiff College of Art. There, she learned from a well-known artist named Ceri Richards. In 1949, she married Ronald Cour, who was a sculptor.

Teaching and Memberships

Glenys Cour also shared her love for art with others. She taught painting and how to make art with glass. She taught at the Swansea Institute of Higher Education and the University of Wales, Swansea. She taught there for many years, from 1963 until 2000.

She has been a member of The Welsh Group for a long time. This is a group of artists from Wales. She has shown her art in many of their exhibitions. In 2009, she became a Royal Cambrian Academician. This is a special honour for artists in Wales. She also helped start the Mission Gallery in Swansea.

Glenys Cour celebrated her 100th birthday on January 6, 2024.

Glenys Cour's Artwork

Focus on Colour and Light

Glenys Cour's art is all about colour and light. She uses bright colours to show how light changes things. She gets ideas from many places. These include landscapes, flowers, and old objects. She also finds inspiration in Welsh stories and myths. She especially loves the tales from the Mabinogion.

Unique Painting Style

What's interesting is that Glenys has never used a paintbrush! She likes to work directly with oil paint. She applies it using torn pieces of fabric and even her fingers. This gives her art a very immediate and personal feel.

Different Art Forms

Glenys Cour creates many different types of art. She paints on canvas and paper. She also makes beautiful stained glass pieces. She creates collages, which are artworks made from different materials glued together. She has also made paper, posters, and artist books. Over the years, her style has changed. In the 1970s, she painted landscapes. Later, in the 1980s, she started using more collage and abstract styles. She also spent time focusing on glass art. In 2007, she illustrated a book.

Exhibitions and Collections

Where Her Art Has Been Shown

Glenys Cour's art has been shown in many places. Her work has been seen in Europe and the United States. She has had big exhibitions in Wales. These include shows at St. David's Hall in 1991 and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in 2003. In 2014, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery held a special show of her work. A filmmaker even made a movie about her art for this exhibition.

Where Her Art Can Be Found

You can find Glenys Cour's artwork in many public and private collections. Some of these places include the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and The National Museum of Wales. Her art is also at the Kunsthalle Mannheim Museum and at Swansea University.

Awards and Honours

Glenys Cour has received several awards for her artistic achievements:

• In 1989, she won an award for the best poster at the British Arts Festival Association.
• In 1992, she received a special commission to create a glass painting for the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.
• She was made an Honorary Fellow of the Swansea Institute of Higher Education in 2004.
• In 2006, she received an Honorary Master of Arts degree from Swansea University.

In 2020, Glenys Cour was given a special honour. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was given to her for her great contributions to visual arts in Wales.