Tributes have been paid to one of Wales's foremost landscape artists, John Knapp Fisher of Croesgoch, who has died at the age of 83.

The artist died at Withybush Hospital after a period of illness.

He was born in London in 1931 and studied graphic design at Maidstone College of Art. He moved to Pembrokeshire in 1967, after living on a boat, from which he painted and exhibited for five years.

From the late 1960s he worked from his gallery in Croesgoch, inspired by the landscapes of his beloved Pembrokeshire.

The artist, whose long thin "letter box" paintings in near monochrome became his signature style, never painted from photographs; he always ventured out with sketchbook in hand and painted from his sketches.

He is acknowledged as one of Wales' most influential landscape painters and in 1992 was elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy. He celebrated his 80th birthday in 2011 with an exhibition of new work.

His ex wife the painter Sheila Knapp Fisher, with whom he had two children Buzz and Lucy, remembered him as lovely person and an incredible artist.

"His paintings were unbelievably beautiful," she said. "He invited us all to go to his last exhibition in Cardiff. I have never seen such exquisite paintings in my life. I felt quite ill they were so beautiful.

"He was a lovely person and he was a very caring person. He was always very encouraging about my art. He used to give me little hints and tell me what to do.

Huw Davies, of Harbour Lights Gallery in Porthgain, who exhibits Knapp Fisher's work and counted him as a close friend, said:

"He was dedicated to his work and had an incredible influence on Pembrokeshire and Welsh art. He was a great influence and friend to many artists and a mentor to many young artists.

"He loved Pembrokeshire, he really did," added Huw's wife Annie. "He loved his boat, loved fishing. He was a very tender, gentle person and he would always donate pictures to different local causes.

"He was a beautiful man, a very special man and everybody loved him."