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Beacons Candles

Beacons Candles, or Beacons Creative, is an extraordinary company based in Brecon that produces candles and related products whilst providing employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties and those furthest from the workforce.

This project was born out of a day care service provided by Powys County Council and with the help of Social Firms Wales it was externalised in 2009. Since then it has continued to grow, developing sales and creating new products as it attempts to transform a day care service into a successful business that meets its commercial and more importantly its social aspirations.

Colin's Creatures

Since 1991 Colin Richmond has been creating a series of unique collectables, using an unusual combination of porcelain, hydrostone and wool to produce detailed and tactile animal models.

Colin carves the original piece by hand in order to make a mould of each part and then casts the head, legs and horns in porcelain to guarantee its detail. The body is made using a castable stone and it is then covered with a woven fur of wool, mohair or alpaca.

The first animals that Colin recreated in his original style were sheep but he has since turned his hand to dogs, goats, pigs and even penguins annd puffins. Each creature he makes is the result of extensive research into that species, in an attempt to gain an understanding of that animal so that he can bring them to life by capturing their expressive nature and personality.

Mary Zammit

Builth Wells-based Mary Zammit is a professional basket maker who uses a mixture of Welsh, French and English willow working techniques.

She gathers the materials she uses from the local area and uses the basket willow and hedgerow material that is collected to produce baskets and garden structures that maintain an important balance between form and function.

Mary also teaches her craft and seeks to inspire others to continue the traditions of basket making by passing on her knowledge and enthusiasm for her work.