Tributes have been paid to Llanuwchllyn sculptor John Meirion Morris.

The artist, who was born and raised in the village, died at Cae Banc, Llanuwchllyn on Friday. He was 84.

Both his parents were shopkeepers in Llanuwchllyn, but a love of art and music took him down a different path and he became well-known for his work, including the Tryweryn Monument.

He played cricket and football for his school, Bala Boys Grammar.

When he was about 16 or 17 he had Rheumatic fever and missed months of school, resulting in not sitting his A-levels. However, in 1955, his headmaster suggested he should go to art school in Liverpool. In 1961, he taught art at Llanidloes where he was asked to produce an opera. It was a great success and he went on to produce another the following year.

In 1963 he taught at the Leamington School of Art for two years before being appointed art lecturer at Kumasi University, Ghana in 1965, where he took an interest in the local native art work.

In 1967 he was appointed lecturer in art education at Aberystwyth University. He left in 1976 to become a professional sculptor, returning to teaching in 1986 when he was appointed art lecturer in the education department at Bangor University. He retired early in 1991 because of health problems and worked as a professional sculptor until 2016.

He leaves wife Gwawr, children Alwyn and Iola, grandchildren Pwyll, Einion, Elin Siriol, Gwydion, Grug, Gwern, Grisial and Arawn and sister Beti.

After losing their son, Dylan, in 2002, the artist created the sculpture, Pieta, in his memory.

Paying tribute to his friend, Criccieth poet Aled Jones Williams said: “First and foremost, this is the loss of a great man who was lovely, warm and generous.

“Second, this is the loss of a great artist.

“His work in instantly recognisable and his very distinctive style is impossible to imitate.

“It is a style that has evolved from a deep personal vision of the Celtic world and also his time in Africa.”

Another close friend, art historian Peter Lord from Cwm Rheidol, Aberystwyth, said: “It’s very sad to lose him. He was a very good man.

“I’ve known him since the early 1980s through the creation of Gweled, an association for people interested in visual arts, and through his involvement with the National Eisteddfod.

“His contribution to both was substantial and he was a very influential figure to us all.

“You won’t find anyone else like him.

“He was a very good man.”