Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen, oil painting

Wilson is recognised as the first great British landscape painter and was a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768. He was born near Machynlleth, a distant cousin to Sir Watkin. Having been unsuccessful as a portrait painter he was advised in Venice by Francesco Zuccarelli to take up landscape painting and spent several years studying in Italy where he was greatly influenced by Claude and his paintings of the Roman Campagna. After several years in Rome, Wilson set up a hugely successful studio in Covent Garden. He was one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768. He has been described as the first great British landscape painter and was acknowledged as a great influence by both Turner and Constable. In about 1770 he was invited to Wynnstay by his cousin Sir Watkin to paint in the Park and this painting of Dinas Bran is one of those completed during this time. It is typical of his style with a tree with delicate foliage in the foreground, a flat plain or water and an atmospheric ruin in the middle ground and small figures dominated by the landscape. The resemblance to A View of Tivoli is remarkable and it was common practice to adapt unsold paintings to depict new scenes. He could seem arrogant at times and this, together with heavy drinking, led to a decline in his fortunes. He died at Colomendy Hall near Mold in 1782 and is buried in the churchyard at Mold Parish Church.

Wilson is said to have painted the original sign for the Loggerheads pub on the Mold to Ruthin road as well as the sign for the Ship Inn at Llong. This one was chopped up for firewood!