HIS LUCKY SIGN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1931, Page 5

HIS LUCKY SIGN.

Miner Artist Strikes Good Fortune. OLD WELSH CUSTOM. (Special to the "Star.”) LONDON, November 5. The fortunes of a young Welsh artist, who a few days ago was on the verge of poverty, have Jpeen changed as the result of a chance* conversation between Sir William Rothenstein and Dr Tom Jones, former Secretarv to the Cabinet. The artist is now working at Cliveden, Lord Astor’s Buckinghamshire seat, on a painting of which the central figure is Mrs Gibbons, nurse to the Astor family. He is Mr H. Rhys Griffiths, who ten years ago was a coal miner at Gorseinnon, South Wales. In his spare time he followed a natural though untutored bent for drawing. His work came to the notice of Sir Goscombe John, the Welsh sculptor, through whose influence the youth was enabled to enter Swansea Art School. He did well, but commissions are few nowadays, and things came to such a pitch that he even began to seek work again in the mine. Then, through the introduction of Sir William Rothenstein. Dr Tom Jones brought the artist’s work to the attention of Mr W. W. Astor, Lord Astor’s son. 4< Everything is all right now,” said Mr Griffiths to a reporter. “We Welsh colliers have a custom when we are out of work. We throw , our caps in the air. If the cap comes down, it means still no work. If it stays up—say, on a window ledge or a tree, then that means work to-morrow. “ The other night I was walking home along Hampstead High Street, wondering where the next meal was coming from. ”As I passed a butcher’s shop I thought of our old ‘ lock-out custom.’ “Up went my hat. And, bless my soul, it didn’t come down! It stayed on a sunblind or hook. “ I knew something good was about to happen, and ran home to tell my wife. She handed me a letter with a crest on it. We were saved!