Workshops and Classes

The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, approached me to see if I would

be prepared to run a workshop at Merthyr Tydfil - town in South Wales.

Eluned Gymraes Davies, a supporter and promoter of Adult Education had

bequeathed an amount of money for 6 areas to be identified to introduce

the local people to a craft. I was to run a woodcarving workshop in the area.

I came up with the idea of creating a jigsaw type panel in the shape of the County

borough Council consisting of 11 panels - 1 for each student to work on. Each panel

represents an historic piece of Merthyr's history i.e. the noose depicts the

hanging of the martyr Dic Penderyn. The quill and ink represents Joseph

Parry, a famous composer. If you're interested in the meanings of the other

panels, please feel free to contact me. The carving in this panel was done

over 9 sessions, the last 3 sessions saw the group make something for

themselves in memory of the workshop and its benefactor. The size of the

panel is approx. 6ft x 4ft (1.83 x 1.22 cms).

Eventually, the panel will hang in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth,

along with the work from the other 5 groups, in a room dedicated to

Eluned Gymraes Davies.