Artist reveals the talents of Geoff Charles

Artist Luned Rhys Parri is happy with her latest project. Having being made Artist in Residence at the National Library of Wales she has been appointed to create artwork based on Geoff Charles photographs. The artist from Groeslon near Caernarfon has had a free reign to explore the photographic collection of one of her heroes. 

Amongst the images in the National Library of Wales Archive, she has found a photograph of her mother’s cousin, Victor Parry with Mari the pony.

‘The people who are in the photographs remind me of my upbringing and background’ Luned commented. ‘It is easy for our generation to identify with the images as the familiar faces remind us of family members’

The main aim of the Artist in Residence project, which is being implemented in partnership with the National Eisteddfod of Wales, is to work with primary school pupils in Mid Wales and high school pupils in North Wales. By using the photographs that Geoff Charles took as a starting point, the workshops will celebrate the life and work of the journalist, who spent half a century recording events throughout Wales. From the 1930s he worked with newspapers such as The Wrexham Star, The Montgomeryshire Express and Y Cymro. He retired in 1975 and proceeded to donate his collection of 120,000 negatives to the National Library of Wales. These photographs can be seen on the Library’s website.

Luned Rhys Parri said that the greatness of the photographer from Brymbo near Wrexham was the way he elaborated on small things as well as larger things.

‘His photographs are a proof of the good relationship which he had with people. This is why I have already used his photographs as part of my work.’

The artist has already started to work with pupils from Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, Newtown, and will work with pupils at Ysgol Clywedog, Wrexham during the period leading to the National Eisteddfod. The final work will be shown at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Wrexham and District 2011 side by side with a photographic exhibition dedicated to the photographer by artist Peter Finnemore and curator Russell Roberts.

Rhodri Morgan from the National Library of Wales’s Education department looks forward to seeing the final work.

‘We are extremely pleased that Luned Rhys Parri has joined us to work for the next six months. She has the talent of getting the best out of school children and students. We look forward to seeing how she and the young participants deal with this famous and enormous collection by Geoff Charles.’

Robin Tomos, the National Eisteddfod of Wales Visual Arts Officer is sure that the artwork will captivate a large audience at the Eisteddfod.

‘At Denbighshire Eisteddfod back in 2011, Luned Rhys Parri won the People’s Choice award, and in Eisteddfod Conwy 1989 she won the Student of the Year award.’

‘As part of the National Library’s outreach programme in Wrexham, it gives us great pleasure to work in partnership on a project which celebrates one of the towns great ‘artists’. For many years, Geoff Charles and his camera was a common sight at the National Eisteddfod.’


The Artist in Residence is a joint partnership between The National Library of Wales and The National Eisteddfod of Wales.


Further Information:
Rhodri Morgan, NLW Education Unit
01970 632913 | rhodri.morgan@llgc.org.uk

Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office
01970 632902 | post@llgc.org.uk

Robyn Tomos, The National Eisteddfod of Wales Visual Arts Officer
02920 763777 | robyn@eisteddfod.org.uk