John Uzzell Edwards was born in Deri, in the Rhymney Valley in 1934.  He showed a very early talent for art, eventually becoming a qualified engineering illustrator.  He moved to Swansea to work as an illustrator for Swansea University and had an exhibition there in 1978. He began to paint full time and became artist in residence at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in 1986. He was awarded the main painting prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales twice. He died in March 2014.