My name is Ffion; I’m an award-winning multidisciplinary artist based in North Wales. I am interested in how art can benefit society, be it through community-engaged art, art in healthcare or through the cathartic power of storytelling, humour and entertainment. Having trained as an illustrator, graduating from the University of Brighton with first-class honours in 2017, my practice has remained broad and eclectic, spanning multiple disciplines. I’ve had the privilege of working internationally on a myriad of projects, with highlights including representing Urdd Gobaith Cymru in Washington DC on a public art piece and being part of the Wales in Venice invigilation team at the Venice Biennale in 2019. However, my heart is here in Wales, where I contribute to the community through socially engaged art and creative support. In September, I will be beginning an MA in Arts Practice: Arts, Health and Wellbeing at the University of South Wales.
I’m honoured to be working with Scene & Word/Cofio Jonah Jones on a series of workshops at the Eisteddfod in Wrecsam. I first came across Jonah Jones’ work during my undergraduate studies. The Graphic Design and Illustration department in Brighton were very craft-based and encouraged us to learn craft methods such as printmaking and letterpress, in order to inform our studies. I’m not a gifted craftsperson by any means, but I still think of the letterpress room every time I open InDesign and I really believe learning the ropes helped me become the artist I am today. Upon my induction to the letterpress room, my curiosity was sparked and I wanted to look into craft-based lettering traditions stemming from my home in Wales. Down this rabbit hole I eventually found and fell in love with Jonah Jones’ hand-lettered alphabet! In a way, this story illustrates my love for traditional methods and crafts and the relevance that artists like Jonah Jones continue to have on artists and makers of all media. I wanted to capture this in the activity I set for the Eisteddfod workshops, combining analogue and digital media, and to show the continuing relevance of Jonah Jones’ legacy by creating art pieces that could only be made today! I’m so excited to get planning, experimenting and making, and to facilitate workshops that truly do justice to artists and craftspeople like Jonah Jones who paved the way for artists in Wales.
Workshops
Adults:
Monday 4th August 13:30
Families/children with adult:
Thursday 7th August 12:00
Adults:
Friday 8th August 14:00
at Y Lle Celf