Percy Benzie Abery

Percy Benzie Abery was a prominent Welsh photographer of the early to mid-20th century.

Abery came to prominence as a photographer in the Builth Wells area. He was in business for over fifty years after settling in Builth Wells in 1898 aged 21. From 1911 onwards his business was located in West End Studio, where a blue plaque commemorates the fact. Though located in Builth Wells he covered large parts of Mid-Wales and was involved in press photography, publishing postcards as well as the stock in trade studio portraits and weddings. He was also appointed the official photographer by Birmingham Water Works to document the building of the Elan Valley Reservoirs.

Abery photographed many aspects of rural life, many of which photographs have now disappeared. He died on January 20, 1948. and his ashes scattered off the sea in Aberystwyth.

Prior to his death in 1948 he selected over a thousand of his glass negatives to be donated to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.