Born. Tredegar, Monmouthshire in 1923; Died. Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in 2003

Painter, printmaker, illustrator and teacher.

John Vivian Roberts attended Cathays High School, Cardiff and studied at Cardiff School of Art (1939-42). Roberts went on to attend the Royal College of Art, London (1947-51) where he studied printmaking under Robert Austin (etching and engraving) and Edwin la Dell (lithography). Roberts exhibited widely with the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour (ARWS) and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE). Many of Roberts' works are circus related and explore many dark and disturbing, childhood themes. Figures of circus performers, clowns, dolls and mannequins disturbingly reappear throughout Roberts' paintings. His professional output extended to more accessible and commercial book illustrations, and he helped to produce a number of children's books for Penguin.

Roberts taught at Cardiff School of Art (1951-60) and was Principal Lecturer in the Department of Graphic Design at Liverpool Polytechnic (now John Moores University) between 1972 and 1983.

Roberts is represented by a number of public collections including the National Museum of Wales and the National Library of Wales.

(Benjamin Angwin - September 2014)