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74b Albany Road
Cardiff
CF24 3RS
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1 miles from Cardiff
This exciting new exhibition showcases the work of three distinctive Welsh artists - James Donovan, Nick Holly, and Malcolm Murphy.
Each artist brings a unique visual language, yet they are united by a common thread: their ability to weave complex, atmosphere-filled narratives that invite deep reflection. Their paintings read like books - rich in detail, symbolism, and story. It’s up to the viewer to stand, observe, and interpret what’s hidden within.
"Three Welsh working-class heroes create atmosphere-filled narratives that suggest multi-layered meanings - leaving it up to you to decide what stories are hidden inside."?Meryl Cubley Pritchard 2025
Returning to Albany Gallery after 25 years, James Donovan describes his work as deeply personal, grounded in life experience, memory, and observation.
“I look at the world around me and paint the things that have moulded me. When I was younger, I painted to honour the memory of my father and grandfather. When I became a father, I painted the culture I understood. Now, I paint to find peace.”
Donovan’s figures are rarely still - always caught in movement, reflecting life’s insistence on momentum. His work celebrates the overlooked, the ordinary made extraordinary, and the quiet power of storytelling through imagery.
“People can make whatever they want to see in my work. I have my own narrative, but it's presented in a way that others can reinterpret and form their own conclusions.”
Nick Holly, often dubbed “the Welsh Lowry,” paints everyday life with a raw, observational realism. Deeply influenced by his working-class background, Holly captures urban scenes filled with characters going about their daily lives - working, shopping, resting, surviving.
“I believe I’m naturally affected by my upbringing and roots. Much like Lowry or other working-class artists, I paint observations from daily life - everyday people doing everyday things. It’s a kind of naïve realism.”
His layered crowd scenes and urban landscapes are packed with detail and subtle narrative, rewarding the viewer with a fresh discovery each time.
For Malcolm Murphy, atmosphere is everything. His work is emotive, immersive, and often dictates its own direction as he works. A master of oil paint, Murphy values the medium’s ability to adapt and evolve, building layers of meaning and feeling.
“Atmosphere is the key to any successful painting. If it provokes an emotional response, then it’s achieved its goal.”
His creative philosophy is simple yet profound:
“Everything is art.”
Murphy’s still life and figurative works are meditative, inviting audiences to pause and absorb both the subject and the mood it evokes.
Albany Gallery invites you to experience this powerful meeting of three Welsh voices - each rooted in working-class identity, each offering a distinct perspective, and each encouraging you to look deeper. This exhibition is a celebration of life, place, and story - told through the hands of three exceptional artists.
4th July - 2nd August
Each artist brings a unique visual language, yet they are united by a common thread: their ability to weave complex, atmosphere-filled narratives that invite deep reflection. Their paintings read like books - rich in detail, symbolism, and story. It’s up to the viewer to stand, observe, and interpret what’s hidden within.
"Three Welsh working-class heroes create atmosphere-filled narratives that suggest multi-layered meanings - leaving it up to you to decide what stories are hidden inside."?Meryl Cubley Pritchard 2025
Returning to Albany Gallery after 25 years, James Donovan describes his work as deeply personal, grounded in life experience, memory, and observation.
“I look at the world around me and paint the things that have moulded me. When I was younger, I painted to honour the memory of my father and grandfather. When I became a father, I painted the culture I understood. Now, I paint to find peace.”
Donovan’s figures are rarely still - always caught in movement, reflecting life’s insistence on momentum. His work celebrates the overlooked, the ordinary made extraordinary, and the quiet power of storytelling through imagery.
“People can make whatever they want to see in my work. I have my own narrative, but it's presented in a way that others can reinterpret and form their own conclusions.”
Nick Holly, often dubbed “the Welsh Lowry,” paints everyday life with a raw, observational realism. Deeply influenced by his working-class background, Holly captures urban scenes filled with characters going about their daily lives - working, shopping, resting, surviving.
“I believe I’m naturally affected by my upbringing and roots. Much like Lowry or other working-class artists, I paint observations from daily life - everyday people doing everyday things. It’s a kind of naïve realism.”
His layered crowd scenes and urban landscapes are packed with detail and subtle narrative, rewarding the viewer with a fresh discovery each time.
For Malcolm Murphy, atmosphere is everything. His work is emotive, immersive, and often dictates its own direction as he works. A master of oil paint, Murphy values the medium’s ability to adapt and evolve, building layers of meaning and feeling.
“Atmosphere is the key to any successful painting. If it provokes an emotional response, then it’s achieved its goal.”
His creative philosophy is simple yet profound:
“Everything is art.”
Murphy’s still life and figurative works are meditative, inviting audiences to pause and absorb both the subject and the mood it evokes.
Albany Gallery invites you to experience this powerful meeting of three Welsh voices - each rooted in working-class identity, each offering a distinct perspective, and each encouraging you to look deeper. This exhibition is a celebration of life, place, and story - told through the hands of three exceptional artists.
4th July - 2nd August