RISING ARTISTS
Selected by CORRIE DAVID
MEGAN DAVIES
Hailing from the Vale of Glamorgan and just graduated from University of South Wales, Megan is one to watch in the fashion industry. Her graduating project, inspired by military dress and footwear, unanimously won her the Clarks Footwear Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Megan is interested in sustainability and eco-fashion, with her award winning shoe including recycled materials. Her upcoming project focuses on the use of locally sourced materials, such as Welsh wool.
Info: 077 0281 5065 / www.megandaviesdesign.co.uk
R.L. CLARKSON
Rebecca studied BA Ceramics and Painting at Wolverhampton University, followed by an MA in Ceramic Design from Staffordshire University. Now living in Barry, she was a founding member of ‘VOGA’ (Vale of Glamorgan Artists society) and uses the local landscapes to inspire her. Her most recent exhibition Beauty Within was influenced by the beauty she found within Barry, from both urban spaces and coastal landscapes.
Info: www.vogaartists.com/rebecca-clarkson
IAN WATSON
Born in Crawley and a former Fine Art student at Howard Gardens, Cardiff, illustrator and experimental musician Ian Watson now lives and works in Cardiff having spent a decade working in television as an Avid editor. He held Artistic Residencies during Cardiff Contemporary 2014 and Arcade Cardiff. His work is largely informed by a misspent youth hiding out with like-minded mutants in the video rental shops and woodlands of East Sussex, head buried in headphones, soaking up the occult messages from a collection of heavy metal cassettes.
Info: uhohwatson.com
REID ALLEN
Contemporary photography over the last few years has really focused on capturing the stoner youth subculture, so much so that now photos of teenagers passing a joint around and pounding a flagon of cider is hardly shocking anymore. So, if you choose to shoot in this realm you’ve got to bring a uniqueness and Reid’s photography does that with a sophisticated, poetic, and rebellious feel. Like the best documentary photographers, he captures a brazen world in an interment DIY instamatic style. Capturing Cardiff’s youth in all its blood, beer, warts and glory!
Info: cargocollective.com/reidallen
MARIA ABBOTT
Born in Wales, Maria has recently graduated from BA Fine Art Degree in Newcastle University. Her video art has been shown both nationally and internationally, at places such as the Beacons Festival, Northern Stage Newcastle Arts and Music Festival and CAAPO Public Art Project ‘Formal Interference’ in Florence, Italy. Her current Fit Into The New You is commissioned by Random Acts as part of their First Acts programme: a series of films celebrating rising 16-24 year-old artistic film makers.
Info: www.maria-abbott.co.uk / Twitter: @Maria0abbott
MARGED ELIN OWAIN
Winner of the Young Artist Scholarship at the 2017 National Eisteddfod, Marged has recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in 3D Design. Her work commemorates and celebrates traditional Welsh craftsmanship, and it explains the narrative and affluence of Welsh culture and heritage.
Info: www.margedowain.com
BEN ARFUR
A self-taught DIY graphic designer, Ben explores the boundaries between type, illustration, design and arrangement. Blending design styles from different decades, his work has a nostalgic yet timeless quality that captures a melting imagination. His work has been mostly utilised for DIY gig posters that have become one of the most interesting works of art in Cardiff’s city centre.
Info: www.benarfur.com
HOLLY DAVEY
Holly graduated from Goldsmiths College London with a BA in Fine Art, and became an accomplished artist; however she has now moved onto her next challenge. After getting her MA in photography from the University of Wales, her new venture of lens-based art focuses on performance, architecture and memory. This year her work won her the Creative Wales Award 2017 from the Arts Council of Wales.
Info: www.hollydavey.com
DANIEL CRAWSHAW
A very talented oil painter, his photograph-like creations have tipped him to become a leading contemporary landscape painter. Based in North Wales, his creations mainly highlight the beauty of the landscapes of Wales. After studying an Art Foundation in Cardiff and a Fine Art Degree in Leicester Polytechnic, Daniel’s work has been selected for the National Eisteddfod Wales nine times.
Info: www.artwales.com
JAMES HENRY JOHNSTON
Originally from Northern Ireland, 50 year old James (also known as Seamus) had never picked up a paintbrush until last year. After being diagnosed with PTSD, James turned his focus to oil paintings as an outlet. Most recently, he has created his collection of ‘Sinister Selfies’ which aim to distort the idea of narcissism and selfies in today’s culture.