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Angela Lewis

A childhood spent in the grounds of Powis Castle, near Welshpool, was enough to inspire Angela to start painting at an early age and has now been completing commissions for over 25 years.

Working in watercolour, oils and pastels from her home in the hills of Abbey Cwm Hir, her pieces often feature animals.

Living so close to the Elan Valley and the hills and wildlife that surrounds the area is a constant source of inspiration for her work, which has been exhibited in many different galleries and craft centres in Powys.

Amanda Skipsey

A member of the Platform One Artists co-operative, Amanda Skipsey is a Rhayader-based artist who produces her paintings in a different and unique style.

Her style could be described as quirky and although she takes her inspiration from the rural Welsh scenes she experiences, she interprets those images in a completely original way. Her work often includes the interesting buildings, towns and villages she comes across.

Amanda exhibits and sells her work in a variety of forms including original paintings, high quality prints in several sizes, greeting cards and calendars.

Caroline Mackley

Another artist who lives near the Elan Valley, Caroline Mackley moved to Rhayader following her retirement and has been regularly painting ever since.

She mostly works in pen, ink or pastels; followed by watercolour, line and wash. Her inspiration is varied but largely comes from the landscape around her, whether that comes in the form of mountains, lakes, buildings or flowers.

In 2006 she and Angela Lewis put on a thought-provoking exhibition at Erwood Station Craft Centre displaying a series of paintings and drawings of the derelict and abandoned farmhouses and cottages dotted about the Mid Wales countryside.

David Bellamy

David Bellamy is a full time artist and author based in Mid Wales. He has written and illustrated 14 books, and seven DVDs on his watercolour painting techniques have been produced by APV Films.

David is often inspired by the moods of nature in untamed places and he specialises in painting wild coastlines and mountain scenes for that reason.

At Erwood Station Craft Centre we have enjoyed a relationship with David Bellamy for many years and as well as displaying many pieces of his work at the centre he has also put on demonstrations and masterclasses for visitors.

He is passionate about conservation and he hopes that through his painting and writing he can help to continue to raise awareness of the difficulties facing the natural environment. He has recently campaigned against the construction of wind turbines on the Welsh hills.

To read more about David's work and philosophy, visit his and Jenny Keal's website here.

David Stoves

Born in Warwickshire in 1947, David Stoves had a comprehensive education in art having studied at Shrewsbury School of Art, Loughborough College of Art and then Birmingham University where he gained a BA Honours degree.

His work is incredibly varied; from landscapes and portraits - which he paints on commission - to flower paintings and figure studies, David is capable of using a wide range of mediums and draws inspiration from many different sources.

A botanical recorder, his work has been exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London and he regularly has work on show at many other galleries across England and Wales.

Dee Doody

Diarmuid (Dee) Doody was born in what was Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, in 1952 and it was this South African upbringing - where Elephants, Lions, Giraffe and Rhinos were abundant - that began his love affair with wildlife.

He moved to England as an eight year old, his family settling in Sevenoaks, Kent, but his fascination with birds and animals was undiminished. In 1982 he studied Merlins in Wales for the RSPB and later helped re-introduce Red Kites to Scotland.

At ITV's insistence Dee became a wildlife presenter and, after offering to do the filming for the series as well, he continued on as a full time wildlife cameraman.

Now Dee resides in Llanidloes and uses his time to paint the creatures he has spent a lifetime watching. His work is currently on show in the exhibition carriage at Erwood Station Craft Centre.

Driftwood Designs

Lizzie Spikes is an arts graduate who lives and work from near Aberystywth, on the stunning coastline of West Wales. She creates her images by painting on canvases made using driftwood that she finds on the beaches near her home.

Lizzie first started painting on driftwood eight years ago and now supplies art galleries and craft outlets thrughout Wales. She has recently received a grant to help towards the cost of a specialised studio as she continues to build on her reputation as a talented artist.

Geoff Johnson

The main source of inspiration for Geoff's work is the landscape and nature around him, and he likes to use his camera as his sketchbook; taking pictures of the scenery around him so that he can later recreate those images using a variety of techniques.

Having trained at Lydney School of Art in the Forest of Dean, Geoff went on to gain a degree in Fine Art from Loughborough College of Art and Design and then completed his education by attending a postgraduate degree course at Cardiff University.

He became an Art teacher and taught in Essex, the Isle of Wight, Oxford and even spent four years teaching in the Bahamas.

He's now retired and lives in Presteigne, Powys, where he spends his time producing work using watercolour, acrylic and etching techniques. Geoff's work has been exhibited regularly and has also undertaken commission work in the past.

Harry Fogg

Harry was born in Ashton-under-Lyme, Lancashire in 1930 where he attended Stamford Boys' School. In 1966 he left Sheffield and moved to Wales, settling in Crickhowell with his wife.

He is a completely self-taught artist but was first inspired by L.S Lowry after seeing an exhibition in Manchester in 1947. Despite first starting to paint in the 1960s, it wasn't until 2002 that he re-discovered art having come to the end of a long and varied career.

Jenny Hare

Carmarthenshire based artist and author Jenny Hare loves to use colour in her work and is driven to paint by her fascination and appreciation of nature.

The Welsh hills and forests provide the perfect backdrop for her art, which often focuses on animals. She has a keen interest in horses and tries to capture their personality and character in her pieces while using bright, and sometimes abstract, colouring.

Her background in writing has led her to produce several books on a range of topics, from self help guides to works of fiction.

Jenny Joice

Jenny specialises in drawing and painting animals and particularly enjoys capturing the relationship between people and their pets. She also likes to ensure that the animals she chooses to depict retain the personality of the creatures themselves.

Her artistic skills were honed during her classical training at Nerina Simi's studio in Florence, followed by time spent at the Parisian Academies during the 1960s. She teaches and exhibits extensively and provides art courses and painting retreats at her studio in South Wales.

Jenny Keal

Like her husband David Bellamy, Jenny Keal is an artist and author living in Powys, Mid Wales.

Jenny mostly enjoys working with pastels and she often uses her keen interest in vernacular architecture, as well as the history of a landscape and the atmospheric conditions, to draw inspiration from for her work.

As well as writing books on painting that cover topics from colour theory to composition and include step-by-step guides, Jenny is also available to host workshops for budding artists and last year she put on a demonstration of pastel painting at Erwood Station Craft Centre's Summer of Great Events.

For more information on her paintings, books and workshops please visit her website here.

Julia Harris

Marieanne Griffiths

Inspired by her great-grandfather Eric Gill, Marieanne is a self-taught artist and illustrator who works in many different mediums.

Her work is generally very detailed and are usually landscape pieces showing iconic Mid Wales scenery such as the Brecon Beacons or the Black Mountain ranges. She uses acrylic paints for their flexibility but also draws in pen and ink to achieve the photographic realism she likes to produce.

Her paintings are available as prints, greeting cards, product decoration and book illustrations.

Michael A. Hardwick

Having learned his craft at Chelsea College of Art, Michael A. Hardwick took the decision to concentrate on his painting full time after leaving Surrey for Wales in 1984.

One of Michael's key aims is to capture the mood and feeling of the landscapes and scenes that he paints, using oils and watercolours to dramatic effect. He also enjoys the changes in light and colour upon the subjects he paints and experiments with his brushstrokes to produce the image he wants.

His work has been exhibited across the UK and have also been published in 'The UK Master Painters Showcase' for The International Artist magazine.

Paul S Day

A British artist based in Knighton, Powys.

Paul favours acrylic paint for his work , although oils, pen, ink and airbrush techniques are also regularly employed. His subject matter and style is equally varied, with detailed observational pieces contrasting with surreal and sometimes mythical imagery.

His work is available in the form of different sized prints as well as greeting cards.

Richard Barnett

After an education at Moseley Secondary School of Art, Richard Barnett went on to study Art and Design at Birmingham College of Arts and Crafts and graduated with a National Diploma in Design (Furniture).

He was elected to membership of the Chartered Society of Designers (Interiors) in 1971  and established his own design practice in 1978.

As well as his paintings, Richard designs and makes clocks and his work has been exhibited at the RBSA Birmingham, Keele University, Stafford Guildhall and in galleries across Wales. He is inspired by wildlife, nature and landscapes and likes to keep a skecthbook with him at all times.

Those sketches, carried out in pen and ink, later make up the foundations of his watercolour paintings. Richard also takes on special commission work and if you would like to use our Contact Us page we would be happy to forward on your message.

Sue Purcell

Sue first became involved in art after enrolling on a foundation course in Art and Design in Northwich, at the Mid Cheshire College of Art and Design, before going on to complete a three year course in Textiles at Derby Lonsdale College.

As a result of her education she began work at Laura Ashley's textile design studio before leaving that company in 1989 to become a freelance artist and designer.

Sue enjoys taking inspiration for her work from the rural area around her and she likes to experiment with the techniques and materials she uses for her work. Alongside her own work she is a complementary education tutor for Art, Design and Textiles through 'People Services' for Powys County Council.

Sylvia Hughes-Williams

Sylvia's work focuses on a wide variety of subjects and she enjoys experimenting with different media and materials to produce completely unique pieces.

Having qualified at Cardiff College of Art and then worked as an Interior Designer and a Graphic Artist, in 1996 Sylvia moved into a studio at Model House Craft & Design in Llantrisant. She has been exhibiting her work for around 30 years now and her work can be found in galleries and private collections throughout Britain and also internationally.

Whatever the subject matter, Sylvia believes that a work of art should convey emotion and in her mixed media work she combines inspirational words with natural textures to achieve that effect.

Wendy Powell-Jones

Despite gaining degrees in both Chemistry and Biology and training as a Biochemist, Wendy Powell-Jones has always had a creative streak and while her children were young she took the opportunity to learn how to paint.

She established and ran The Bridge Gallery in Llandeilo for 12 years and has since helped to expand Anthony Richards' gallery, The Cornerhouse, in Ammanford.

She enjoys photography, walking and birding; all of which help to keep her out in the Welsh countryside that inspires so much of her work. Wendy is also a tutor and takes leisure painting courses from her studio.