Caernarfon Byd o Liw

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-I'm visiting one of Britain's most

-easily recognized historic sites...

-..the impressive Caernarfon Castle.

-Castles don't usually attract the

-attention of contemporary artists.

-To many people, they are

-politically explosive subjects...

-..and a symbol of oppression.

-But between the 18th

-and 20th centuries...

-..castles, and Caernarfon Castle

-in particular...

-..were an exotic topic for artists.

-This wasn't just a castle.

-It was a royal palace near the sea.

-There are many paintings

-of Caernarfon Castle.

-In my view,

-one stands out from the others.

-That painting is in

-the National Gallery in Cardiff.

-It's entitled The Stronghold of the

-Seison and the Camp of Kittywake.

-It was painted in 1879

-by John Brett.

-When I called to view it...

-..the painting

-was in the conservation room.

-The last time I saw the painting,

-it was in a poor condition...

-..due to the effects

-of poor varnishing.

-It's a surprise

-to see this painting...

-..in the National Gallery's

-conservation room.

-I usually see it on a wall

-and it has a yellow tinge.

-You can now see the bright colours.

-You can also see the brush strokes

-and the vibrant background.

-You can see the detail

-in the castle itself...

-..tiny, minute details.

-The sandbank

-is an interesting feature.

-It illustrates the rhythm

-of the sea.

-The colours are remarkable.

-Turquoise, cerulean

-and different blues and greens.

-They help bring out

-the red colours in the sails.

-Caernarfon itself looks very warm.

-It looks almost Mediterranean.

-The mountains look far softer

-than I expected.

-It's less harsh

-than the north Wales terrain.

-Look at the size of the painting -

-it's a vast panorama.

-It shows Snowdonia

-as God's masterpiece.

-It towers over the minute details.

-We've invited two artists to create

-a new interpretation of this scene.

-The first artist is Darren Hughes

-from Bethesda...

-..whose paintings are inspired...

-..by the mountainous areas and

-slate quarries around his home.

-According to the late

-Kyffin Williams...

-..Darren demonstrates

-true passion in his art.

-Darren is painting

-on Brynsiencyn beach on Anglesey...

-..directly opposite Caernarfon.

-This is the position

-chosen by Brett.

-The changeable nature

-of the weather...

-..creates exciting possibilities

-for his work.

-I just want to express

-how the sky looks today.

-The clouds are so high

-and the light is incredible.

-Do you think there's too much

-to see in this vast expanse?

-I think so. This strip is amazing.

-There's so much detail

-around the castle itself.

-There are countless houses.

-You have different layers

-of mountains, the light and the sky.

-It's particularly windy today.

-I'm trying to gather

-as much information as possible.

-What are you using now?

-You're painting with watercolours.

-You've brought a number

-of sketchbooks.

-You're also using Indian ink.

-I'm using Indian ink,

-watercolours and charcoal.

-The light has been shining

-on different parts of the mountains.

-I can see more detail.

-I'm trying to paint the shapes...

-..and then I'm adding

-as much of the detail as I can see.

-I didn't expect to see

-such strong colours.

-It's a reminder to help me

-when I return to the studio.

-I'm just making a note

-of a few colours that I can see.

-The sea is one colour,

-the sky is grey...

-..and the green colours

-are really strong.

-John Brett became

-a distinguished artist in the 1870s.

-He was a wealthy man.

-He bought his own yacht.

-The Viking was his maritime studio.

-It was big enough

-to accommodate his family and crew.

-Most summers,

-John Brett and his family...

-..would leave their home in London

-to travel along the coast.

-Sometimes,

-they visited Cornwall or Scotland.

-Most of the time,

-they visited Wales.

-Brett would draw sketches

-on board his yacht.

-He would complete the paintings...

-..during the winter

-in his London studio.

-This is one he painted

-of Cardigan Bay.

-Brett was part

-of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

-In the mid 19th century...

-..the Middle Ages became a popular

-subject for artists once again.

-This was a response

-to the uncertainty...

-..following

-the Industrial Revolution.

-The Pre-Raphaelites

-embraced Christian ideals...

-..expressed through

-nature, beauty and chivalry.

-This painting by Rosetti, the most

-famous of the Pre-Raphaelites...

-..hangs next to Brett's Cardigan Bay

-in our National Gallery.

-This is my favourite.

-A woman of mystery and intrigue.

-Our second artist

-is Rowena Edwards from Caernarfon.

-She's a student

-at the Chelsea School of Art...

-..and was previously

-at Coleg Menai, Bangor.

-Rowena likes to convey

-a personal story in her work.

-Her family is the subject

-in these pictures.

-Rowena is making sketches

-from within the castle.

-She has taken an elevated

-position on top of the Eagle Tower.

-I'm using the walls and the cut-out

-in the castle walls...

-..to frame the view

-from this position.

-I'm highlighting

-what I see with colour.

-I'm using masking tape to create

-a different base for the picture.

-I've looked through various windows.

-I'm putting

-all the sketches together...

-..but I'm also keeping

-the outline of the stone framework.

-I like the walls and the way

-the wind has eroded them.

-There are different patterns.

-Brett visited Anglesey

-as a young man.

-He had a productive relationship

-with the Welsh coastline...

-..which continued for 30 years.

-Brett stayed with his friends here,

-in Tros Yr Afon near Beaumaris.

-We're in the house

-where Brett stayed with his family.

-What do you think

-about this painting?

-It's an interesting painting.

-It's a bit twee -

-it's a romantic painting.

-There's a lot that interests me

-in the painting.

-There's plenty of detail.

-There are detailed sections

-in every part of the painting.

-That's characteristic

-of the Pre-Raphaelite period.

-They worked

-in quite a scientific way.

-The entire scene is vast.

-The sky is immense.

-There's a strip of land

-with the sky above it.

-It's such an interesting space.

-The painting has been broken up

-into sections.

-Brett is very aware

-of the geometry of composition.

-The castle is the focal point.

-It ties up the foreground,

-the background and the sky together.

-When Brett painted this picture

-of Caernarfon Castle...

-..his paintings sold

-for high prices.

-The prices rose six-fold

-in a short period of time.

-Brett could charge 3,000

-during this period...

-..but curiously,

-this painting failed to sell.

-His family later donated it

-to the National Gallery.

-The spirit of the Middle Ages

-has captured Rowena's imagination.

-When Edward I, King of England,

-built this castle in 1282...

-..he wanted a strong fortress

-and a royal palace.

-The castle has witnessed

-ceremonial occasions.

-It was also the focus

-for Welsh resistance.

-Edward wanted to demonstrate...

-..his military and political power

-throughout his kingdom.

-But these aims weren't fulfilled.

-Today, the spear has become

-a paintbrush for our artists.

-Rowena uses the grid shape

-of the windows...

-..to create a geometric image

-using wax, paint and charcoal.

-The castle's complex architectural

-structure is remarkable.

-I wanted to know if the shapes

-had attracted Rowena's attention.

-I've been sketching

-the spiral staircase.

-It caught my eye.

-The structure is so complex.

-It's very interesting.

-Instead of just using

-black, white and grey...

-..I decided to use light blue

-and dark blue.

-You're using the shapes

-within the castle...

-..the windows, the gaps,

-the battlements and the staircase.

-I'm using different aspects

-of the castle in my sketches.

-I've used wax to draw

-the window frame in this sketch.

-I've used the wax

-to create a different effect.

-What are your feelings

-towards the castle?

-I was born near Caernarfon.

-I've lived here all my life.

-It's close to my heart.

-I wanted to listen

-to the views of local people.

-I went on the Ferris wheel

-with the town's mayor, Ioan Davies.

-What do you think of the castle?

-There is a Roman fort

-within the castle walls.

-The Welsh took over the fort.

-Edward I built the castle...

-..and now, the people

-of the town have taken it over.

-It's part of the town.

-Some people don't like the castle

-at all.

-For political reasons.

-I think we've all taken it over now.

-What do the local people think?

-Is the castle a symbol

-of oppression?

-Oh, definitely. It certainly is.

-What is its purpose?

-To keep the Welsh in check.

-What do you think of the castle?

-It's excellent.

-It's in good condition.

-Do young people like you think

-it's a symbol of English oppression?

-Sometimes, maybe. I'm not sure

-if we take that seriously.

-While Darren cracked on

-with his watercolours...

-..I asked him about his feelings

-for the castle.

-I don't have any feelings,

-to be honest.

-It's just something for me to paint.

-I view it as a subject,

-just like all other subjects.

-It's interesting

-how it nestles in the landscape.

-There's a man-made quality about it.

-It's something that interests me.

-You usually work from home,

-in Bethesda.

-The scenery there is very different.

-You're painting mountains

-when you're on a mountain.

-You're detached

-from your subject here.

-How does this affect you?

-There so much distance between the

-castle, the landscape and me.

-It has a melancholy quality to it.

-I wanted to hear Rowena's response

-to Brett's painting.

-I don't usually like

-traditional paintings.

-I like the fact

-that he's used pastel shades...

-..and the way he's painted

-the clouds.

-It's also nice to see the mountains.

-What type of artwork appeals to you?

-I like personal artwork

-which has a story linked to it.

-That's why I like this painting

-of Caernarfon Castle.

-The castle is familiar

-and personal to me.

-It's as if Brett is communicating

-with me through this painting.

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-Darren joined me

-on board the Vilmar...

-..to experience the way

-John Brett worked.

-Brett was close to nature

-on board the boat.

-This is the way Pre-Raphaelites

-preferred to work.

-Brett produced over 200 paintings

-from his voyages to Wales...

-..but not everyone

-is as fond of sailing.

-I wanted to know how the movement

-of the boat affected Darren's work.

-It's quite a challenge

-to draw a picture on a boat.

-What's caught your eye?

-I've had time to draw the smaller

-detail to use in the studio.

-You have so much perspective

-in front of you.

-You can't be too fussy

-when you draw on a boat.

-What about the castle itself?

-It moves as you look at it.

-I've kept the ideas in my head and

-altered the drawing as I've gone on.

-I've added to the composition

-of the drawings.

-It's very interesting.

-Rowena is collecting materials

-from the shore near the castle...

-..which isn't far from her home

-on the outskirts of the town.

-The candles have been extinguished.

-The heat gun is at work.

-She's using different materials,

-including textiles...

-..stones from the beach...

-..and a few unusual materials...

-..in her picture.

-Darren's studio is at his home, on

-the side of a mountain in Bethesda.

-Darren works with the extremities

-of perspective...

-..distant and close-up.

-You wouldn't expect to see

-an artist using a spray gun...

-..on this type of painting.

-I wanted to know more

-about his technique...

-..and his reasons

-for using this device.

-I use masks -

-I use plants and spray through them.

-I work over them afterwards

-and add more spray.

-That helps with the space.

-The castle is white at the moment.

-It was a remarkable scene

-when the sunlight hit the castle.

-That will change.

-I've joined up

-many of the different moments...

-..to create an impression

-of the place.

-You've compressed the moments.

-It's one moment in particular.

-It's a series of moments.

-That's why painting is so special.

-I like the intense, grey clouds.

-You have sunlight

-peering through here.

-That's what's nice about

-having the sea and the coastline.

-The weather is so changeable.

-It's just a matter of using

-all those effects in the painting.

-You've painted a panoramic scene.

-You can have the weather of

-one day here and the next day there.

-You paint on smooth surfaces.

-What materials do you paint on?

-It depends.

-There's paint under the sky here.

-I've added a layer

-of glaze varnish to it.

-I use acrylic paint on top of that

-layer to create different colours.

-It's a very different way

-of painting.

-This is amazing.

-A moment like that

-appears by chance.

-It's not a mistake, as such...

-..but you start to remember

-different aspects.

-I remember that light

-and it all comes together.

-It's fantastic

-how it inspires me to paint.

-In 1887, after spending the summer

-sketching and drawing...

-..Brett returned to London...

-..and organized an exhibition

-in his studio.

-Hardly anyone attended.

-Brett's method of painting

-was no longer distinguished.

-Rowena, early in her career...

-..is still experimenting

-with different techniques.

-This is Caernarfon in the Caribbean.

-You've completed your painting now.

-It's very interesting.

-The way you work

-has surprised me in some ways.

-The first thing to ask is what

-material you've used as a base?

-An old duvet.

-Is working on a duvet

-different from working on canvas?

-It offers a lot more depth.

-There are many different effects.

-If I melt wax on the duvet, it

-creates folds which create clouds.

-I like the way

-you've interpreted the sky.

-The sky is very busy.

-The sky that day was quite dull

-and grey. I've added colour.

-I've added red

-to represent the sunset.

-The sun is setting

-in Brett's painting.

-I'm not sure about your clouds,

-though!

-Tell me more about the clouds.

-Tell me more about the clouds.

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-I like them!

-I like the comic,

-cartoon effect they create.

-I like to include features

-like that.

-I don't think many people like it.

-You're very playful in the way

-you create your art.

-I see the castle every day.

-It's a serious building.

-I've included some humour with

-the clouds and it's more colourful.

-I see things differently.

-Pre-Raphaelite art was very serious.

-Post-modern artists are willing

-to interpret the world...

-..with humour and irony.

-This is a scene depicting dreams.

-Darren has almost finished.

-He takes care with the detail.

-Darren's ambitious response

-is complete.

-It's like Brett in some ways...

-..but it's nothing like Brett

-in other ways.

-There's a chilly atmosphere.

-It's almost misty.

-There was light

-trapped behind Elephant's Head.

-I wanted to capture that.

-When I was there...

-..the castle was in sunlight

-and the rain was moving in.

-I wanted to capture those effects.

-The castle is shrouded in mist

-and almost seems to disappear.

-I can see every detail

-in the castle - it's very clear.

-When you're focusing

-on such a panoramic view...

-..you can't see

-the complete painting.

-You're always drawn

-to a particular detail.

-I san see Elephant's Head

-very clearly.

-I wanted to create different layers.

-That can be quite difficult.

-You have to take your time.

-You were using leaves

-as masks in the foreground.

-I was using them as a device...

-..to improve the foreground

-and define the space.

-It didn't actually work.

-I liked this strip as it was.

-I was trying to frame it

-with the light and the mist.

-Wales is an enchanting place

-on the other side of the sea.

-The space helped me illustrate that.

-Are you happy with your work?

-You're never happy!

-No, we're never happy.

-I am happy with the painting.

-It's a step forward for me.

-I've used different materials,

-such as watercolour.

-It's far more delicate.

-In many ways,

-it's been a great success.

-The attention to detail makes this

-panting very similar to Brett's.

-What sets the paintings apart

-is the choice of colours.

-The detail Brett included

-in his landscapes...

-..contributed to his success

-as an artist.

-Why did Brett use warm colours

-in his painting?

-It's very evident to me now.

-He painted

-just as the sun was setting.

-As the sun shines on the castle,

-the walls sparkle like gold.

-The sea reflects

-and intensifies that effect.

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