Tryweryn monument sculptor John Meirion Morris dies age 84

The artist behind the unbuilt Tryweryn monument, John Meirion Morris, has died age 84.

The sculptor from Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, was one of Wales’ most prominent and also known for his busts of Ray Gravell, Gwynfor Evans and others.

He had hoped to place his monument to Tryweryn on the shores of the drowned village of Llyn Celyn but the project has not as yet raised the required funding.

However, the model was displayed for three years at the British Embassy in New York. The feathers of the bird were made up of a row of heads “singing, or protesting” the artist said.

There were renewed calls to build the monument last year after the Tryweryn mural near Llanrhystud was defaced.

Award

His work had many African influences and he spent time as a lecturer at Kumasi University in Ghana. He also lectured at Liverpool University, Bangor University and Aberystwyth University.

He eventually settled back at Llanuwchllyn in 1977 to concentrate on his work as an artist.

In 2001 he received the Glyndwr Award for his outstanding contribution to the arts in Wales.

John Meirion Morris leaves a wife, Gwawr, their daughter, Iola and their son, Alwyn. His ‘Pieta’ sculpture commemorates another son, Dylan, who died of a brain tumour in 2002.