Conversations in Porcelain and Paint, Found Gallery, Brecon

Exhibition: Conversations in Porcelain and Paint
Annwn: A Mystical Landscape

30 April – 30 June 2025, Found Gallery, Brecon

I was honoured to be part of Conversations in Porcelain and Paint, a group exhibition at Found Gallery in Brecon this spring. Curated by director Punch Maughan, the show featured expressive ceramics by Corisande Albert, coastal-inspired paintings by Elizabeth Haines, and six of my works from the Annwn series — originally exhibited in my solo show at the Riverfront in February.

What is Annwn? A Hidden World in Welsh Mythology
The word Annwn (pronounced an-noon) comes from Welsh mythology. It describes a mystical otherworld — a hidden realm where land, water, and time are intertwined.
This idea has long fascinated me.

My paintings in the Annwn series are visual interpretations of that sense of “the thin veil between places” — where the physical and spiritual seem to occupy a space between dreaming and waking.
I’m inspired by atmospheric locations like Llanthony Priory, Anglesey, and Castrocielo – places that carry a quiet magic and emotional charge.

My Creative Process: From Landscape to Studio
These works begin outdoors, in all weathers. I walk, sketch and write in my journal, paying attention to light, movement, and the feeling of a place. I take photographs too, but I don’t work directly from them.

Instead, once back in my South Wales studio, I begin larger drawings — often with no set plan, just an intention. I paint on wooden panels using mixed media techniques: monoprint, collage, thick acrylic paint, and layers of texture.

I scrape, draw, and sand the surface. Gold leaf is embedded in the paint and paper, then partially removed to reveal a rich patina beneath. Some paintings hold many layers; others resolve in just one. There’s a point I feel — not a decision, but a knowing — when the work is finished.

Image: Llanthony Priory - I visit this place often, drawn to its peaceful, magical atmosphere.

Found Gallery: A Powerful Collaboration
At Found, my paintings were shown alongside ceramics and gestural coastal paintings. The works spoke to one another through form, colour, and shared sensibilities. In the basement, a striking installation of hand-processed black-and-white photographs by Paul Edgley — all about trees — added a contemplative note to the exhibition.

Most Works Sold Early – Want to Hear About the Next Series?
Most of my Annwn paintings sold within the first two weeks of opening. I believe the earlier works would have sold too — but many had already found homes after the Riverfront show.

If you’d like to be the first to view and collect new work, I invite you to join my Substack newsletter. Subscribers get early access to upcoming series, in-person workshops, collaborations, and exhibitions — sometimes before they’re shared anywhere else.