William Rathbone

Rhyl, Conwy, United Kingdom

About the Artist
W. J. (Bill) Rathbone was born in Rhuallt near St Asaph in 1934, of Welsh parents. A self taught artist who did not start painting until the age of thirty seven. His oil paintings and pencil sketches are displayed in many private collections, he also painted murals in schools and places of public interest. His work was shown on television and featured in many newspapers. In 1983 Bill had a painting accepted by The Tate Gallery in London, has exhibited in many other galleries. From 2001 until 2008 became a Turkish resident, staying in Istanbul painting pictures of the famous mosques and architecture, before settling in Bodrum where Bill opened a studio and gallery. His first Turkish exhibition proved successful, resulting in the sale of many paintings and commissions, the painting of Mustafa Kemel Ataturk made the front page in the leading Turkish newspaper 'The Hurriyet'. At the end of 2008 he returned again to North Wales where he is currently painting pictures of the life of Owain Glyndwr.