Acclaimed Welsh artist Kevin Sinnott dies aged 78
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- Kevin Sinnott died at age 78, with Museum Wales confirming him as one of Wales' most acclaimed painters whose work is held in major collections in the UK and internationally.
- 'Running Away with the Hairdresser', Sinnott's best-known painting depicting two figures running along a terraced street, remains on display at the National Museum in Cardiff, where Museum Wales called it one of the most popular works in the collection.
- Sinnott trained at the Royal College of Art in London and rose to prominence in the 1980s with exhibitions at prominent galleries in London and the United States.
- Major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Council, the British Museum, and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales acquired his work over his career.
- Born in Sarn, Bridgend county to Irish parents, Sinnott continued painting at his home in the Garw Valley until the end of his life.
- Celf Gallery in Cardiff paid tribute on social media, saying Sinnott's 'love and zest for life played out in his exuberant and colourful paintings' and that a September exhibition at the gallery will still go ahead as a tribute and celebration of his life and work.
- Sinnott is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren; his wife Susan died in 2017.
Why it matters: Sinnott's death closes a chapter on a painter whose flagship work became a touchstone of Welsh contemporary art, now held by the Metropolitan Museum, the British Museum, and Cardiff's national collection. The September exhibition proceeding as a tribute gives the art world one final chance to engage with his legacy on his own terms.
