Foel-fras & Llwytmor

About the artist

Andy%u2019s recent work has focussed upon natural stone structures or standing stones. Behind this is an interest in Shamanism, specifically the practice of leaving teachings in physical objects such as rocks or statues. This is derived from many shamanic and esoteric traditions and is something that Andy %u2018feels%u2019 when visiting these sites. In Tibetan Buddhism, the objects are called termas (hidden treasures) and the people who receive and reveal the knowledge held within them are called tertons. There are 81 stone circles in Wales, many thousands of standing stones, many more natural boulders that have sat on the landscape for millennia, waymarking ancient pathways. Perhaps one of their functions is as termas, and who knows what inspiration will be shared from the ancients should you choose to lay your hands upon them! A more recent diversion into ancient stone churches has started to manifest itself, fuelled mainly by Andy%u2019s close proximity to Hen Eglwys Llangelynnin, that sits high on the slopes of Tal y Fan, above the villages of Rowen and Henryd in the Conwy Valley. After more investigation, it would seem there are many more similar simple religious stone structures across the whole of Wales that still stand either intact or as ruins, and Andy has started to visit and document them, fascinated by their simplicity and understated beauty.

Andy%u2019s work explores the ancient sites and landscapes in an around his home in the Carneddau Mountains in Eyryri National Park, North Wales. Working from his own original photographs and drawings, Andy produces limited edition, multi-layer reduction linocuts and photogravure prints depicting the rich textures of the landscapes and sites that he takes inspiration from. Andy graduated from the University of Salford in 1995 with a Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design. It was whilst studying that Andy was introduced to various printmaking techniques such as linocut, screen printing and etching and where he first began to experiment with that form of image making. After a 25-year career in digital design, Andy returned to his roots and has been a practising printmaker for the last 5 years. During that time, he has honed his skills with Linocut, and developed his work using the photogravure process.

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