Stone Circle And Lark Song

Back to the ancestral stones today with a brisk walk up Mynydd Llechart above Pontardawe to the Carn Llechart cairn circle. It’s been a gorgeous day, quite warm and very bright and sunny, deep blue skies with no clouds. The larks hovered and sang all around us and we met some jolly dog walkers, despite being miles away from anywhere.

It’s a simple circle, quite small stones but with a terrific view across the expansive land. I drew onto Fabriano Accademica paper that I had prepared with my home-made walnut ink and some white acrylic paint. I drew with carbon and white conte crayon. I just sketched in the shapes quite roughly and concentrated instead on making marks, getting into the physicality and pure pleasure of drawing with the sun on my face, surrounded by some of the best scenery in the world.

I’m travelling around South West Wales with archaeologist Dewi Bowen who is researching his new book on Neolithic / Bronze Age monuments. His previous book on the standing stones of Ancient Siluria (South East Wales) can be found here. Accompanying us is film maker Melvyn Williams who is recording a documentary about our experiences. Some of Melvyn’s short films can be seen here. I’m working on a series of expressive drawings of ancestral sites and if you want to see some of my other artworks, please click here.