Farmyard Scene Oil Painting by Donald H Floyd

A farmyard scene oil on canvas by Welsh artist Donald H. Floyd. The work is typical of the artist with a strong influence of impressionism and the Saint Ives School, depicting the colours of the farm bathed in warm late afternoon light. The painting is worked quickly outside as was Floyd’s method and most likely around his home at Tintern. The piece has been professionally cleaned and lined and is in very good condition. The painting is signed to the lower right ‘Donald H. Floyd’ and dated somewhat illegibly. Donald Henry Floyd (18 April 1892 – 15 June 1965) was a British painter known for his work in South East Wales. Floyd was born in Plymouth. He trained under Frederick John Snell and John Noble Barlow for five years with such success that he was exhibiting at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool when he was just 21. Snell taught him watercolours and Barlow introduced him to the painting of the St Ives School. He trained to be a teacher but the First World War interfered with his plans. Floyd insisted on remaining a private whilst he served in Palestine, Egypt and India where he was tasked to sketch enemy positions, but he still painted in his free time. After the war he married and moved to the South Wales border area around Caldicot, Chepstow and finally Tintern. Floyd had 16 paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy as well as regular exhibits at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and the Royal West of England Academy exhibitions. His subjects included his travels to Ireland, England and Holland but he was best known for the paintings around Monmouthshire including 250 of the Wye Valley, which he painted in all weathers. His family would sit warm inside whilst Floyd would don an extra overcoat to capture an image before it changed. Floyd died on 15 June 1965. He has paintings in Chepstow Museum, Monmouth Museum, Newport Museum and the National Library of Wales. This is a fine example of his work and most likely of the Wye valley although it is not titled, the farm buildings are typical of the area. The work is mounted in a fine quality modern gilt frame that has been gilt to sympathetically work with the tones of the painting. The whole is a charming example of this interesting artist’s work. C.1940. Overall sizes in inches including frame: 38 by 28