Moss Williams Signed Welsh Coastal Marine Oil Painting Lighting Storm Birds in Flight

Moss Williams Welsh Coastal Storm Oil Painting Birds in Flight Circa 1950–1960

An atmospheric signed Welsh coastal oil painting by Moss Williams (1894–1975), depicting a rocky shoreline beneath a dramatic stormy sky with a flock of birds in flight. Dating to circa 1950–1960, the work features expressive brushwork, rich coastal colours and a historic Paris Salon-related label.

Highlights

• Original signed oil on board by Moss Williams (1894–1975)

• Circa 1950–1960, Welsh coastal landscape

• Dramatic stormy sky, rocky shoreline and birds in flight

• Historic Paris Salon-related label verso

• Welsh deceased-estate provenance

• Rogers Jones & Co., Lot 346, October 2026

• Painting: 68 × 56 cm

• Framed: 79.5 × 67.5 × 4 cm

• Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution included

Introduction

An original mid-20th-century Welsh coastal landscape by Moss Williams (1894–1975), capturing the drama of an exposed rocky shoreline beneath a turbulent sky.

The composition presents an expansive coastal landscape dominated by brooding clouds, dark shoreline formations and luminous passages of light. A conspicuous flock of birds moves across the sky and coastal foreground, introducing movement and vitality to the rugged landscape.

Williams employs expressive brushwork and a distinctive combination of slate grey, charcoal, muted blue, ochre and pale yellow. The contrast between the darker coastal formations and illuminated passages creates a powerful impression of changing weather.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Moss Williams (Welsh, 1894–1975)

Title: Lightning Storm Over a Rocky Coastal Shore

Origin: Wales, United Kingdom

Date: Circa 1950–1960

Medium: Oil on board

Signature: Signed lower left

Subject: Stormy Welsh coastal landscape with rocky shoreline and birds in flight

Possible Location: Foryd Bay, North Wales (unconfirmed)

Exhibition Label: Historic verso label referring to the Paris Salon and Société des Artistes Français

Painting Dimensions: 68 cm W × 56 cm H

Framed Dimensions: 79.5 cm W × 67.5 cm H × 4 cm D

Catalogue Note

The painting presents a dramatic coastal landscape in which land, sky and weather are brought together through expressive brushwork and a richly textured painted surface.

Dark horizontal coastal formations extend across the middle distance, contrasting with lighter passages of sky and foreground. Overlapping areas of grey, pale blue, warm ochre and silvery white convey an unsettled atmosphere, while small passages of vivid yellow suggest fleeting illumination.

The foreground consists of irregular rocky formations and lighter passages suggesting wet coastal surfaces, shallow water or exposed shoreline.

A substantial flock of dark birds is distributed throughout the composition. Several appear high against the pale cloud formations, while others fly closer to the shoreline. Their differing wing positions and varied placement introduce movement and rhythm.

Williams represents these birds through economical, expressive marks rather than detailed ornithological description. Their precise species cannot be established.

The resulting composition combines atmospheric observation with expressive interpretation, emphasising the changing light, weather and natural movement associated with the Welsh coastline.

The Artist – Moss Williams (1894–1975)

Moss Williams was a Welsh painter and sculptor associated with Caernarfon and the artistic traditions of North Wales.

His work reflects an interest in the expressive possibilities of landscape painting, particularly the relationship between natural scenery, colour and atmosphere.

The present painting demonstrates an emphasis upon the visual character of the coastal environment rather than a strictly topographical representation.

Its energetic brushwork, richly textured surface and dramatic contrasts of light and dark contribute to its distinctive mid-20th-century character.

Historical Context – Welsh Coastal Landscape Painting

The Welsh coastline has long attracted artists interested in dramatic weather, rugged geography and changing natural light.

North Wales offers a varied coastal environment, encompassing exposed rocky shores, tidal estuaries, sandy bays and distant mountainous landscapes.

During the 20th century, artists increasingly explored these subjects through expressive approaches to colour and brushwork, seeking to convey the immediate experience of the landscape rather than concentrating exclusively upon topographical detail.

The present painting belongs to this wider tradition, combining the drama of changing coastal weather with the movement of birds across an exposed shoreline.

The Birds in Flight

One of the painting's most distinctive features is the substantial flock of birds distributed throughout the landscape.

Close photographic examination reveals numerous dark silhouettes against the lighter sky and coastal foreground.

Several birds are depicted with their wings extended, while others appear with wings raised or angled, suggesting different stages of flight.

Their varying positions create depth and movement across the composition, contrasting with the predominantly horizontal arrangement of the shoreline.

Although the birds may represent coastal or seabirds, their precise species has not been securely identified.

Possible Location – Foryd Bay, North Wales

The landscape has been considered in relation to the North Wales coastline, particularly the area around Foryd Bay.

Foryd Bay is a tidal coastal environment associated with the Menai Strait and the wider Caernarfon area.

Its exposed shoreline, broad tidal areas and changing atmospheric conditions provide a potentially relevant geographical comparison.

However, the painting does not contain sufficient identifiable topographical features to establish the precise location.

Foryd Bay is therefore recorded as a possible interpretation rather than a confirmed identification.

The Historic Paris Salon Label

An interesting feature of the painting is a historic label on the reverse referring to the Paris Salon and Société des Artistes Français.

The Société des Artistes Français is associated with the long-established French Salon exhibition tradition.

Such labels can provide valuable documentary evidence concerning the exhibition or historical movement of artworks.

The label forms part of the painting's surviving physical history and merits preservation.

However, the precise exhibition date, catalogue entry and association with any particular Salon exhibition have not been independently verified.

Dating

The painting is catalogued as circa 1950–1960.

This dating reflects its mid-20th-century artistic character, expressive handling of the coastal landscape and its position within the known lifetime and career of Moss Williams.

The historic exhibition label may provide an opportunity to refine the chronology should further documentary evidence become available.

Provenance

Welsh private collection, subsequently forming part of a deceased estate handled through a solicitor.

Rogers Jones & Co., Colwyn Bay, Wales, Lot 346, 13 October 2026.

Acquired at the above sale by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

In correspondence dated 14 October 2026, Rogers Jones & Co. confirmed that no further provenance information was available beyond the deceased-estate origin and the solicitor's involvement.

Exhibition History

Historic verso label referring to the Paris Salon and Société des Artistes Français.

The specific exhibition, date and catalogue reference have not been independently established.

No additional confirmed exhibition history is presently recorded.

Dimensions

Overall Framed Dimensions

Height: 67.5 cm

Width: 79.5 cm

Depth: 4 cm

Painting

Height: 56 cm

Width: 68 cm

The earlier auction description recorded approximately 58 × 66 cm. The current dealer-recorded measurements are stated above.

Condition Report

The painting displays a richly textured painted surface with expressive passages of pigment throughout the sky, rocky shoreline and foreground.

Close-up photographs reveal variations in surface texture, including areas of accumulated pigment and irregularities within the darker coastal formations and lighter passages of sky.

The birds remain clearly discernible, as do the principal elements of the rocky shoreline and atmospheric background.

The painting retains strong visual contrasts between dark charcoal passages, muted coastal colours and luminous yellow highlights.

The precise age of the frame, any historic restoration and the condition of concealed areas have not been independently established.

No formal technical conservation examination has been undertaken by the dealer.

Prospective purchasers are encouraged to examine all accompanying photographs, including detailed close-up images, as part of their assessment of the artwork's condition.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

Owing to the historic framed presentation of the artwork, it will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, exhibition history and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis, dating and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available physical evidence, historic inscriptions, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

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