Acclaimed Welsh artist Kevin Sinnott dies aged 78
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- Kevin Sinnott, one of Wales' leading contemporary artists, died at age 78, with Museum Wales describing him as one of the country's most acclaimed painters
- Born in Sarn, Bridgend county to Irish parents, Sinnott rose to fame for "Running Away with the Hairdresser," two figures running along a terraced street that hangs in the National Museum in Cardiff
- Trained at the Royal College of Art in London, Sinnott enjoyed major success in the 1980s with exhibitions at prominent galleries in London and the United States
- His work was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum, the British Council, the Royal College of Art, and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
- Museum Wales said "Running Away with the Hairdresser" is one of the most popular works in its collection, reflecting the emotion, colour, and distinctive character of Sinnott's style
- He continued painting at his home in the Garw Valley until the end of his life; his wife Susan died in 2017 and he is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren
- Celf Gallery in Cardiff, which called his legacy "images of universal humanity," confirmed a planned September exhibition will still go ahead as a tribute
Why it matters: For Wales' cultural community, the death of Sinnott — whose vibrant depictions of Welsh life earned permanent placements in the Met, the British Museum, and the National Museum in Cardiff — closes a chapter on the artist whose most beloved painting remains one of Amgueddfa Cymru's most-visited works.
