Cwmyoy Church

This sketch of Cwmyoy contains some of the vitality that I wanted to get into the final painting but it didn't work out that way.

Llanbedr ystrad yw

This mixed media painting never made it into the exhibition at Neville Hall, although I do quite like it despite its sombre feel. There are some really massive yew trees in this churchyard which I would like to incorporate next time. 16" x 12".

Llanfihangel Crucorney Sketch

Following the initial sketch on site I like to do a rough sketch of the sort of colours and techniques I want for the final painting. Often the rough sketch has more immediacy and life than the finished painting. In this case the camera has lied as the marks under the paint are not as bright as suggested here.

Neville Hall Exhibition

The Neville Hall hospital exhibition is now up in the outpatients department. It features 11 new paintings done especially for the exhibition. The exhibition space is run by GARTH (Gwent Arts and Health), a voluntary organisation promoting art in healthcare settings. 

Llanthony and John Craxton

John Craxton 1942

This is John Craxton in full neo reomantic mode. The tree could easily be a massive monitor lizard. The priory is almost irrelevant.

Hodges and Llanthony

William Hodges the great explorer painter, and his view of the central tower.

Edgar Holloway and Llanthony

This woodcut is from 1948 and shows the  West towers with some degree of accuracy. There seems to be a fence where the present wall is in the foreground. 

Richard Colt Hoare and Llanthony

Llanthony by Hoare 1800

Here the West towers seem the worse for wear. Trees are growing almost everywhere and the building to the right has disappeared.

Llanthony by Hoare

The tower on the left has almost totally collapsed and the buildings on the right have re appeared but lower down. Meanwhile the main  central tower  seems to have grown.

More images of Llanthony Priory

Denis Constanduros

Shell poster from http://vintageposterblog.com/2010/10/27/thats-shell-that-was/

1850's Lithograph



Ian Phillips Linocut

 

Gastineau's Llanthony



Llanthony by Gastineau

 Its hard to see this amount of the towers today because they are partly hidden by garden. Gastineau was a romantic artist but this seems a pretty accurate representation of the building. This engraving was done by H.W. Bond. From Woodward, B.B.,(1853) 'History of Wales'

Piper's Llanthony



Llanthony 1940 by Piper



This is the same view that I chose to sketch the West front. In between the 2 towers used to be a large window. The arches visible on the left supported the roof over the nave. The large grey structure was part of the central square tower.



Llanthony 2011 My sketch



 What is interesting is what Piper has left out, namely the details such as the arrow slits to the corner of the nearest tower and  any decoration. He has concentrated on simplifying the building so it becomes a series of monoliths. Colour and contrast are used to create a sense of drama.   



Llanthony 1941 by Piper



In this study the towers have become even more like concrete blocks. The proportions of the tower and the shapes of the arches have been changed, they even appear a little bit face like. Again the emphasis is on colour, contrast and drama.

Llanthony Priory

Mixed media 16" x 12" on watercolour paper. Squared up from original sketch.

New sketches

Capel y ffin

LLanthony Priory



Llanthony Priory