These two pages of Pauline Evans Valley’s Re-told Sketchbook show a print version of Evan Walter’s painting entitled ‘The Communist, a political meeting’. Walters trained at Swansea School of Art. He came from a working class background in a west Glamorgan coalfield. His works include industrial scenes as well as landscapes, portraits and religious paintings inspired by the Welsh non-conformist tradition. In this work of around 1932, the Christ-like posture of the orator is ambivalent and his audience muted. Walter’s career faltered in the 1930’s and there was little interest in his industrial imagery. He is remembered today for his advocacy of Welsh art that expressed ideals and the soul of Wales.
This paintings was one from the online art collections of the Cardiff Museum, chosen for study in a session at the Dowlais Visual Art Group.
Pauline went on to paint her own version of this painting on the opposite page in her
sketchbook, keeping a grid of the colours used.