Plas Glyn-y-Weddw (Welsh Art Gallery)

Plas Glyn-y-Weddw (from outside)

I spend a lot of my free time in Abersoch (North Wales) and while i was there i thought it would be a nice idea to visit one of the local Art Galleries. I thought it would help my passion for art and design and general creativity reappear! The art gallery is called Plas Glyn-y-Weddw and it is situated in Llanbedrog just before you enter Abersoch.

The building itself is absolutely beautiful inside and out and they exhibit work from local artists mainly landscapes of the countryside scenery and seascapes from around the Abersoch area. But this particular time there was an exhibition of mixed media imaged created by a local illustrator Niki Pilkington i think the main reason i liked these images was because they were so very different from the landscape imagery that they usually showcase. Niki uses very intricate pencil lines and shading for the portraiture in her work and adds colour but either using pencil crayon, coloured pends and coloured card to add more detail such as patterns on clothing or is used to add another object to the image like balloons and wildlife. She also adds traditional Welsh idioms somewhere in the composition she explains the reason for this is because "Idioms are an imperative part of the Welsh language, and are in danger of disappearing. This series of illustrations aims to bring these idioms alive once more, at least for a little while." Niki Pilkington.

However i have to be critical in the fact that there is no english translation to the Welsh idioms, i love the meaning behind the use of the Welsh language as i feel it is personal to her and it is upholds the Welsh heritage but i simply cannot gain the full feel of the piece.

The illustrations looked great in context as they were all placed in white frames in the centre of the wall all next to each other acting almost like a wallpaper boarder. The walls were cream which matched the rest of the gallery so the exhibition was designed to match the atmosphere of the building and its interior. It was simplistic and sophisticated which contrasted with her contemporary, bold work similar the the themes within her work mixing the traditional with the contemporary - "The contrast between these traditional Welsh phrases & idioms and the more contemporary illustrations is intentional. Take these illustrations as a step towards remembering the Wales of bygone days." Niki Pilkington.

A few photos of the Exhibition

Illustrations in context

Here are a few examples

When i look at any type of illustration i always imagine what it would look like moving (as a moving image student i recon thats a good thing!). I think the contrast of details, life like drawings and block, florescent colour is beautiful i will consider this as a drawing style i could use in the future. I would also like to look more into life drawing, i missed a couple of sessions this year and i am currently looking for classes outside uni.

I am now following her blog to keep an eye on her upcoming work and events and i have notice she has an exhibition at this gallery again starting this week so i am planning to go down to Wales for the weekend to see her new work. Super Excited!!!