Nicholas Evans

Nicholas Evans (10 January 1907 – 5 February 2004) was a self-taught Welsh artist from Aberdare. He signed his paintings Nick Evans and was sometimes known by that name. His work was influenced by his spiritual beliefs as a Pentecostalist. Early life Evans was born in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. Evans' talent in drawing was recognized by one of his primary school teachers, who encouraged him to sketch. He stopped after a while, for want of paper. He began work at the age of 14 as a miner, but this lasted only for three years, until the death of his father in 1923, which deeply affected Evans. His mother had also worked in the pits. In keeping with his mother's wishes, he left mining and became a railwayman, eventually finding a job as a Great Western Railway engine driver for coal trains in the Cynon Valley. He became a member of, and later a lay preacher in, the Welsh Apostolic Church. According to John Harvey, Evans believed that the inspiration for his paintings came directly from God. He married Annie Lambert (died 1997) in 1928. They had two sons, Victor and Peter, and one daughter, Rhoda. Rhoda encouraged him to continue working in his nineties.