I was born in Calgary in the province of Alberta in Canada to Maldwyn and Pauline from Llwydcoed and Aberdare respectively in South Wales. My father was a geologist and they had emigrated to Canada shortly after their marriage in 1954. There was plenty of oil in Canada. There was also plenty of coal in South Wales but the fact that both my grandfathers had worked down the pits meant made sure that their children did not follow. My parent’s returned to South Wales in 1963 and in a few years my father returned to the oil and gas industry when gas and then oil was discovered in the North Sea.
This explains my choice of studying Geography a few years working for oil companies following my graduation. Conversely I spent most of my working life as a solicitor and on leaving the profession in 2015 decided to do a degree in Fine Art. My art practice has been dominated by subject matter from my degree studies in Geography graduating.
This image dated January 2023 an old family photograph is titled 16 October 1962 and is a collage with ink on paper. The subjects are myself on the left, my cousin and my sister. The setting is the front garden on my grandmothers house at 1, Victoria Square, Aberdare. The work is inspired by my memories of childhood visits to see family to Aberdare and the need to celebrate my roots and place not only in the family history but in the land around Aberdare.
