Mourners at Bangor Cathedral for the funeral of Sir Kyffin Williams

Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan led the service for Sir Kyffin, who died earlier this month aged 88.

Tributes were given by Professor Derec Llwyd Morgan, ex-vice chancellor of Aberystwyth University, and Nicholas Sinclair, the artist's godson.

Opera star Bryn Terfel and harpist Elinor Bennett, also performed during the hour-long service.

Terfel sang My Little Welsh Home, and the Marquess of Anglesey gave a reading at the service.

Bryn Terfel performed a musical tribute

The Archbishop of Wales said Sir Kyffin's "preferred option" would have been a small funeral because in spite of his fame he did not believe many people would come to his funeral.

"He was genuinely humble and never felt fully accepted by the art establishment in Wales," said the Archbishop.

Permanent memorial

Sir Kyffin, who died from cancer on 1 September in an Anglesey nursing home, has been praised as the finest painter of his generation.

The man who turned to a career in art only after ill-health prevented him from joining the Army was known worldwide for his oil paintings depicting his native north Wales countryside and drawings of figures and animals.

There have been a number of calls for a permanent memorial in his honour to be set up, with many calling for it to be sited on Anglesey where he grew up.

Sir Kyffin was later buried at Llanfairynghornwy, near Cemaes, on Anglesey.

During the service, Dr Llwyd Morgan said Sir Kyffin was a fantastic story teller, and he did not let the facts stand in the way of a good yarn.

On one visit to the artist's home Dr Llwyd Morgan noticed a Volvo estate car in the garage, a change from the van and Skoda Sir Kyffin had driven previously.

When asked about his new car Sir Kyffin said he had bought it because of the number plate which ended with the letters YSK.

He would remember a face and return to the studio, sometimes months later and paint that face from memory Sir Kyffin's godson Nicholas Sinclair

The saleswoman at the garage had told him, he said, that the letters stood for 'Young Sir Kyffin' and on the strength of that he had bought the car.

Nicholas Sinclair described his godfather as a "born communicator". Although his work was profound, dark and broody he also had a humorous and mischievous mind.

He had a remarkable memory, said Mr Sinclair, and would work every day to "train" his brain by learning something new.

"He would remember a face and return to the studio , sometimes months later, and paint that face from memory," he said.

Sir Kyffin would be "honoured and touched" that so many had turned out for his funeral, Mr Sinclair added.

Among the invited mourners were other Welsh artists, Lord Crickhowell (former Welsh Secretary Nicholas Edwards) and Lady Crickhowell, and Anglesey AM and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones.