Mural Makeover
A mural just finished at Cardigan Castle celebrates Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd and the first Eisteddfod. Local artist Rhiannon Weatherhead designed and painted the mural in response to a request from the Friends of Cardigan Castle to brighten up the cabin that serves as a tool shed. And she has certainly succeeded. Rhiannon’s mural represents bards, musicians and dancers in the castle setting and features the ancient Turkey Oak. Although the Castle gates are closed for the winter the mural can be seen from the Green Street entrance.
Years of debris had to be cleaned from the cabin and rust rubbed down before it could be primed for painting. The Friends of Cardigan Castle got together and prepared the surface so that Rhiannon could start. She braved some extremes of weather throughout the summer – sometimes it was too cold to paint for long, often too wet to do anything, occasionally it was very sunny, which also restricted work because of the glare from the white basecoat.
Paint and materials for the job were donated by local people following an appeal through the pages of the Tivyside Advertiser earlier in the year.
Artist and jewellery maker Rhiannon comes from a creative family: her parents run Snail Trail handweaving studio near Rhosygilwen, while Raphaelle, teaches and takes commissions in bodypainting and Bob works backstage in London’s West End theatres.
You can find the Friends on www.friendsofcardigancastle.co.uk and you can e.mail them at friendsofcardigancastle@yahoo.com.
