Pembrokeshire artists celebrated in new exhibition

09.05.2023

A new exhibition has opened at the Riverside Gallery, Haverfordwest that celebrates the artists of Pembrokeshire, and how its landscape, people and light have inspired them.

The Pembrokeshire Artists exhibition includes works by renowned early twentieth century artists such as Gwen and Augustus John and more contemporary artists such as David Tress and Claudia Williams. It brings together a diverse mix of works by local artists, or those with connections with this picturesque county.

Presented through three main themes of seascapes and coastlines, urban settings and portraits, the Pembrokeshire Artists exhibition showcases items from the works on paper collection at the National Library of Wales.

With its quality of light and beautiful landscape, Pembrokeshire has long been a creative hub attracting and inspiring artists from all over the UK and beyond and the close relationship between art and the Pembrokeshire landscape is explored in this exquisite exhibition. 

Rhian Gibson, Director of Communications, Engagement and Partnerships at the National Library of Wales said:

“We are very proud of our connection with The Riverside Gallery. Having the opportunity to share these works of art from our collections with the people of Pembrokeshire and its visitors makes an important contribution to our strategy to widen access to our collections and create new audiences for Welsh art and culture. Pembrokeshire's attraction and inspiration for artists from near and far can be clearly seen in this exhibition, and I hope it will inspire visitors to take a fresh look at the county around them."

Mari Elin Jones, Interpretation Officer at the National Library of Wales said:

“With Pembrokeshire having been described as the St Ives of Wales I am extremely glad of the opportunity to show works by some of the county's most famous artists from the National Library of Wales’ works on paper collections, in Haverfordwest. This is a unique opportunity for us to share a collection that is rarely seen in an exhibition that has been specially curated for the Riverside gallery. We hope that the exhibition will delight and inspire visitors to the gallery."

Showing alongside the Pembrokeshire Artists exhibition is Pembrokeshire: Past and Present, a permanent exhibition focusing on the history, culture and landscape of Pembrokeshire. Both exhibitions will run until Saturday 3 September 2023.

--ENDS--

**Mae'r datganiad yma hefyd ar gael yn y Gymraeg**

For more details and images, please contact: Rhodri ap Dyfrig, Head of Marketing and Audiences, National Library of Wales: rhodri.apdyfrig@llyfrgell.cymru / 07855362206

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the Riverside Gallery, Haverfordwest

The Riverside is a flagship cultural centre in the heart of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Opened in December 2018, it features a 21st century library, visitor information, coffee shop and a national government indemnity gallery space, which showcases collections from The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. This high quality facility is unusual and pioneering and is already playing a central part in regenerating the town and wider area of Pembrokeshire.

For more information visit:

• The Riverside website
• Pembrokeshire Libraries Facebook page, or
• call Glan-yr-afon/The Riverside on 01437 775244

About the National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales is one of the great libraries of the world. Located in Aberystwyth, it is the home of the story of Wales.

Opened in 1907, the Library is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations.
The purpose of the Library is to make our culture and heritage accessible for everyone to learn, research and enjoy.
We are a legal deposit library, which means we are entitled to a copy of every print publication in Britain and Ireland, but our collections also include the following

• 7,000,000 feet of film
• 250,000 hours of video
• 6,000,000 books and newspapers
• 40,000 manuscripts
• 1,500,000 maps
• 150,000 hours of sound
• 950,000 photographs
• 60,000 works of art
• 1,900 cubic meters of archives

You can search the collections online and can find further information along with a list of resources on our website.