The Essential Elements

  I went to the launch of ‘Nawr Yr Arwr / Now The Hero’ last Friday. I was besides myself with excitement! But I still had a scribble. I usually do. This young actor, Mathew Prichard, in World War 1 uniform stood to attention throughout the launch. I drew him in my A4 brown paperContinue reading “The Essential Elements”

The Ghost

I work a lot with a three-colour monotype technique that produces a full colour unique artwork on a sheet of paper (BFK Rives 250gsm). Then I put a second sheet of paper onto the plate and put it through the press again to take a second print with the ink (Caligo Safe Wash) that’s leftContinue reading “The Ghost”

It’s All About The Process

I am so fortunate to have worked with the artist Marc Rees, filmmaker George Morris and my long-term life model, David Williams, to create a unique monotype for the “Now The Hero / Nawr Yr Arwr” art happening / event / extravaganza that will climax at the end of September. I worked from one ofContinue reading “It’s All About The Process”

Start At The Beginning

Six months ago I had the privilege of working with my model, David who I’ve been working with for 10 years, the artist Marc Rees and filmmaker George Morris. On the first day I drew David in The Brangwyn Hall, which is an amazing place, built in the 1930s for the magnificent Brangwyn panels. OnContinue reading “Start At The Beginning”

The Lord, The Warrior And The Welsh Cake

It’s been an exciting day. I shook hands with a lord, hung out with a Celtic warrior, sipped tea and ate a Welsh cake in an art deco temple in Swansea, and watched a film about my model and me. Here it is…. I’ve been involved in this expansive art project, Nawr Yr Arwr /Continue reading “The Lord, The Warrior And The Welsh Cake”

A Very Quick Dead Horse

Here’s the last drawing I did of the Ystradgynlais Mari Lwyd when it appeared at Gellionen Unitarian chapel a couple of weeks ago. I did it in a few seconds so I had to just get down the fundamental details of what I was looking at. I used mostly white conté crayon, a stub onContinue reading “A Very Quick Dead Horse”

Mari Lwyd’s Friends

  Mari Lwyd, the ancient Welsh tradition linking back to the ancient Celtic goddess Epona and the mythological Rhiannon, welcomes the new year by parading a life size puppet constructed around the skull of a horse along with a group of characters who each have a role to play in the celebrations. These characters varyContinue reading “Mari Lwyd’s Friends”

Face To Face With A Dead Horse

  Husb and I are spending a few days in The Lake District with family and I have taken a break from drawing.  It’s great scenery around here but I’m not much of a landscape person to be honest, I’d rather draw cityscapes.  I did a lot of drawings last weekend at Gellionen Chapel’s MariContinue reading “Face To Face With A Dead Horse”

The Old Chapel

Husb and I went to the old Gellionen Chapel last Sunday for a service that included Mari Ystrad, the Mari Lwyd from Ystradgynlais. The chapel, dating from the 1600s, is gorgeous and decorated with fresh boughs of holly. The service started with lighting a large candle and was not overtly religious, as the Unitarians welcomeContinue reading “The Old Chapel”

A Strange Place

Husb and I went to chapel last Sunday. Yes, that’s right, not something we would ever normally do. we went to see the Ystradgynlais Mari Lwyd at the Gellionen Unitarian chapel up on Gellionen Mountain. It was freezing cold but very sunny so I strolled out into the landscape and had a scribble into myContinue reading “A Strange Place”