The Painting Prophet; Renowned as a Musician with Platinum-Selling Welsh Rockers Lostprophets, Keyboard Player Jamie Oliver Is Now Making Giant Strides in the Welsh Art World, as Dave Owens Discovered

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Byline: Dave Owens

THIS year's shortlist for the Welsh Artist of the Year 2012 Award threw up an interesting array of names.

The list of notables included six former Gold Medal winners at the National Eisteddfod and the founder of Wales' first Welsh language rap band - Llwybr Llaethog.

Add to that list maybe the most unexpected addition - Richard J Oliver, otherwise known as Jamie Oliver the globetrotting international star with Welsh rock giants Lostprophets, and you have quite the diverse line-up.

Those familiar with the Valleys band, who recently released their new album Weapons and played a sold-out show at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, will be well aware of the keyboard player's artistic streak.

He's been painting for years - well before the …