0:00:00 > 0:00:00- 888
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- 888 - - 888
0:00:06 > 0:00:08- 888
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- In the early seventies, I wasn't a - member of Adfer, nor was I a hippy.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23- But I was determined to live, - work and raise children...
0:00:23 > 0:00:27- ..in an area where Welsh - was spoken as a first language.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45- Before completing my Zoology PhD - thesis at Cardiff University...
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- ..I married and moved to Tregaron.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Tregaron was one of Wales' - most Welsh areas.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- More than 90% of the population - spoke Welsh.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59- Looking back, - it was a good decision.
0:01:01 > 0:01:07- Welsh is still the natural language - of every pub, shop and business.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11- There's a nice sirloin - in the fridge.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15- Finding a job wasn't easy - in the area.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- I'd have to make a living - by my own devices.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- My Welsh husband - moved here from London.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32- He bought the 'Emporium', a former - clothes shop on Tregaron square.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38- We renovated the place, and opened - a business selling Welsh crafts.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46- I enjoyed travelling all over Wales - visiting various craftsmen.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52- I was looking for examples of work - that was based on something Welsh.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- Something with a Welsh feel.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- I started asking hippies - who had settled in Wales...
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- ..to read the Mabinogion - and Welsh fables.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06- This inspired them - to create individual pieces.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- This drew a favourable reaction.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22- Regarding the influx - of newcomers to Cardiganshire...
0:02:22 > 0:02:27- ..I felt a sense of duty to convey - some of our history to them.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32- My father, Prof Jac L Williams, was - from the Llanddewi Aberarth area.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- My grandparents - farmed in the village.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- I loved being on the farm with the - animals. I remember this clearly...
0:02:42 > 0:02:46- ..though I was only 3 when they sold - Caebislan, and retired to Aberaeron.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02- Llanddewi's landscape and houses - haven't changed for centuries.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06- The people and way of life haven't - changed much, either, in my time.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14- Llanddewi is a church and parish. - There isn't a village.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18- The church stands alone on top - of a high hill looking out to sea...
0:03:18 > 0:03:20- ..high above Aberarth.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- It's a pre-Christian Celtic - site of significance...
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- ..like many other ecclesiastical - sites in Cardiganshire.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- Many of the gravestones - attest to the maritime tradition...
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- ..of Cardiganshire coastal villages.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- My mother's background - was totally different.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Her family were from Caerphilly, - and couldn't speak Welsh.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- The historical fortified town...
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- ..was built around the largest - castle of the princes of the south.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- Grandfather was a cobbler, - grandmother a dressmaker.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- Craftsmen, like me.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- I hardly recognise the place today.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- The language was lost - in one generation.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- Today, Welsh schools - are over-subscribed.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- A way of life - has changed completely.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- My memories of black-faced miners - walking home...
0:04:17 > 0:04:21- ..and women nursing babies in shawls - seem silly and romantic now.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- The contrasting backgrounds - gave me the best of both worlds.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33- I was privileged to be brought up - totally bilingual.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- I can't say Welsh or English - is my second language.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- I've two first languages.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- It isn't just a matter of - two languages though...
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- ..rather of two cultures. - Two ways of thinking.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- My historical awareness - came from two different directions.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- One had a literary, - educational emphasis.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- The other was about belonging - to a country and landscape.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- Both families, - like other Welsh people...
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- ..put a great deal of emphasis - on formal education to get on.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Both my father and mother - went to University.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- Dad and Granddad taught me the Welsh - names of plants and wild animals.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- Mother introduced me - to the English classics.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- When I was three, we moved - from Caerphilly to Carmarthen...
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- ..my parents, me, - and my little sister, Mair.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- My father - was a lecturer at Trinity College.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- Our home was an old mansion - which accommodated students.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- My parents were the wardens.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- When I was 9, Dad was appointed Prof - of Education at UCW Aberystwyth.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- Discharging his duties with - conviction and an individual mind...
0:06:00 > 0:06:04- ..from 1960 - until his untimely death in 1977.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- We moved to a big house - in Llanbadarn Fawr.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- It's still my home, - because my mother lives there.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- My father specialised - in bilingualism.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- He studied Quebec's - bilingual society.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- The name of the house - was a bit of a joke initially.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- In fact, it was sheer coincidence. - We didn't name the house!
0:06:33 > 0:06:39- A study of- Aber's- bilingualism in - the 60s would have been interesting.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- I attended the town's Welsh school - for two years.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45- That was quite an eye-opener for me.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- It was a shock to realise English - was the language of the school yard.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- There was almost a racist prejudice - against the Welsh language.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Thankfully, - things have changed today.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- The people of Aber - are prouder of their Welshness.
0:07:06 > 0:07:12- I was fortunate that my teacher was - the Crowned Bard John Roderick Rees.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17- He prepared us for the 11+ - as the exam used to be called.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- The standard was very high, - higher than today's GCSE, I think.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26- John Roderick Rees gave me an - excellent linguistic foundation...
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- ..in both Welsh and English. I'm - very grateful to him to this day.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- I moved to Secondary School - the - same building as Penweddig today.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- Ardwyn, as it was known, - was Aberystwyth's grammar school.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- Most of the lessons - were through the medium of English.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- The school had mainly traditional - English aspects...
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- ..though some subjects were taught - in Welsh for the first two years.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- That wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- I was fortunate to be taught - in an academic environment...
0:08:02 > 0:08:04- ..by intelligent, gifted teachers.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- This was perhaps the best time of - my life. I was very happy in school.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15- I enjoyed learning all sorts - of subjects - two in particular.
0:08:15 > 0:08:21- I was pulled in two directions, - between Biology and Art.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- I had the privilege of having - Hywel Harries as my art teacher.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- He was here for many years. His work - can still be seen in the school.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- Having to choose between - the two subjects was very hard.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- At that time, academics - and teachers, and my parents...
0:08:43 > 0:08:47- ..thought art college - was for stupid people.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- The emphasis was on academia. - I ultimately chose science.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57- I continued with my art - through college years as a hobby.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- My Biology portfolio was more - a work of art then a science paper!
0:09:06 > 0:09:10- I studied Zoology and Bio-Chemistry - at UCW Bangor.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- Bangor had one of the best Zoology - departments throughout Britain.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17- But I was disappointed.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- The narrow-minded scientists - had personal agendas.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- They didn't want to know - about the relevance of other fields.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- We weren't encouraged to think - or to nurture new ideas.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- We regurgitated - the lecturers' own ideas.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- Memorising Biological and - Bio-Chemical terms was a challenge.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- Whilst I followed a science course, - most of my friends studied Welsh.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53- They introduced me to scholars like - JG Jones and Bedwyr Lewis Jones.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- I started to take an interest in our - early literature and folk tradition.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- I participated in the activities - of the Welsh Language Society.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09- I decided to stay in Wales, and - live through the medium of Welsh.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21- After graduating from Bangor...
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- ..I was invited to study - for my PhD in Cardiff...
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- ..through the medium of Welsh.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- No-one else had written - a Science PhD essay in Welsh.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- This ground-breaking opportunity was - enough to persuade me to continue.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- But I was beginning to have second - thoughts about a scientific career.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- By the time I'd finished - three years of research...
0:10:45 > 0:10:50- ..I was fed up with science - because of the need to specialise...
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- ..narrowing the field - of study and information.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- My interest was in the wider, - philosophical aspect of Biology.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- I found the necessity - to specialise frustrating.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- But more than anything, I realised - that a scientific career...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- ..would mean laboratory work - in a big city.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15- That wasn't what I'd set my mind on.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22- And anyway, for too long, my art - had suffered because of science.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- Tregaron would change - that completely.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32-
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- In the beginning, - we sold Welsh crafts in Tregaron.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42- Soon after opening, I came across - an exhibition of Celtic treasures.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- Many of these superb works - struck a chord in someone like me...
0:12:01 > 0:12:05- ..who had fallen in love - with Welsh and Irish legends.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11- I realised people who speak Celtic - languages have a unique heritage...
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- ..and how much the rest - of the British Isles has missed out.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- Creating within the Celtic tradition - would be my life from now on.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- Metal was the obvious - medium to choose.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- I hadn't been involved - with metals previously.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- I learnt to work with silver - and gold through reading books...
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- ..and studying experienced people at - work. I also experimented on my own.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- I didn't have specialist - equipment to start...
0:12:56 > 0:13:01- ..nothing but a saw and files, and - my parents' Black and Decker drill.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09- Owning my own shop allowed me - to experiment with the market.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- Much to my surprise, - most of my pieces sold well.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Things developed with time. I - didn't want to progress too rapidly.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22- The market kept growing.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28- I talked to a friend of mine, - Professor Leopold Corr from Austria.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33- Many Celtic discoveries were made - in Austria at that time.
0:13:34 > 0:13:40- He suggested I wrote to a highbrow - Austrian and German catalogue.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- Leopold helped me - with the German translation.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49- Much to my astonishment, quite - substantial orders began to arrive.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- To make each one by hand without the - proper equipment was time-consuming.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- But the money was good, and I - was paid promptly and regularly.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04- It's true to say that the German - catalogue established my business.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09- The money was used to buy better - equipment, and I could work quicker.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- But in reality, the way I make my - artefacts and gems hasn't changed.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25- I certainly won't ever - mass-produce them factory-style.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- The pieces are all - individual and unique.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41- When most people - consider Celtic art...
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- ..they think about - intertwined patterns.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49- Lines weaving through each other - in complicated, decorative patterns.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05- Birds are a common feature - of Celtic art.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11- Birds are a common feature in our - mythology and oral traditions.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- The starling in Branwen's tale, - Rhiannon's birds...
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- ..or birds used as love messengers - in our songs.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37- The dragon, as we know it today, - doesn't feature in early Celtic art.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41- The early dragon was more - of a water serpent or beaver.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47- A strange, other-wordly creature who - lived in lakes, rivers and wells.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- Spiral patterns are a characteristic - of early Celtic art.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06- Especially the 'Trisgell', - a spiral pattern of three.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- Three is central to the whole Celtic - tradition, and is extremely complex.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16- It has run through the tradition - for 3,000 years and more.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- Because I'm known - as a Welsh goldsmith...
0:16:26 > 0:16:30- ..there is popular demand, - especially from overseas...
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- ..for Welsh symbols - in gold and silver.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39- I often create love spoons from - gold and silver, rather than wood.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54- I also make larger silver spoons - - the National Eisteddfod series.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- I made my first - for the Lampeter Eisteddfod.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03- Appearing annually, they feature - each Eisteddfod's logo.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- They've become collectors' items - over the years.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- These are mainly for Welsh people.
0:17:10 > 0:17:15- I never produce more then fifty - a year, and each is numbered.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20- They're quite rare, and will be - worth keeping for the future.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- I've recently started working with - bronze. It's a new departure for me.
0:17:37 > 0:17:43- Bronze was - the Celts' favourite metal.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- It was what they used most - in their everyday work.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51- I felt this was relevant - to modern work.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56- I wanted to make heavier and larger - pieces than what I was used to.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- Of course, this is rather expensive - if you're using solid silver.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- Bronze is much more suitable, - and cheaper, for this purpose.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- I've been fortunate enough - to have worked with Welsh gold.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- Welsh gold was mined - in the 1980s.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- I was one of only three goldsmiths - allowed access to it at that time.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32- I was fortunate to live at a time - when Welsh gold was mined.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- Welsh gold isn't on sale any more - to people like me.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- It's not for selfish reasons I hope - Welsh gold is mined once again.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- It's an important part - of our heritage.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- The National Trust looks after - Dolaucothi Gold mines today.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09- The mine was worked - until the late 1930s.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- But the history of Dolaucothi mines - dates back nearly 3,000 years.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16- The Romans arrived - and began mining for gold.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21- But experts have discovered signs of - earlier mining by Bronze Age Celts.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34- It's good that people can appreciate - an important part of our history.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- But our gold industry shouldn't - become a mere tourist attraction.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- Tourism is, and always will be, an - important part of the Welsh economy.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- The popularity of Tregaron - and mid-Wales with visitors...
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- ..has been beneficial - to my business.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- But all businesses - have to broaden their horizons.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- When I started selling to America, - I had to correspond.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- This was a painfully slow process. - The fax speeded up the process.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- Now, we have a full colour - catalogue on the World Wide Web.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- This has transformed - a niche market, like mine.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- The possibilities for the future - are very exciting.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- Every artist is restricted, - to a certain extent, by the market.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- To make a living, one has to create - pieces that will sell.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38- And since I run my own business, - the problem is greater.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42- It's difficult sometimes...
0:20:43 > 0:20:48- ..to know where to draw the line - between what I'd like to create...
0:20:48 > 0:20:52- ..and what I know will sell - - what my customers will like.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- I'm not prepared to compromise - one way or the other.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- I would never make anything - I thought was ugly and tasteless...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- ..just because it would sell.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- But not all pieces are for sale.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- Individuals and establishments - have commissioned me over the years.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- Pleasing the commissioner as well - as myself is an enjoyable challenge.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- For the series of Welsh stamps...
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- ..the Post Office asked me to make - the Prince of Wales feathers.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- I tried to make them look - like real bird feathers.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- The Post Office, not me, - chose the design. I chose the style.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- The brief asked for great detail, - and the best possible craftsmanship.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- Throughout my youth, I attended the - ancient church of Llanbadarn Fawr.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- Two remarkable - holy stones can be found there.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- Such stones are dated according to - the carvings upon them.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- Experts are convinced these belong - to the early Christian Age.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- The shape of the stones - are interesting.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- One is phallic, and masculine.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19- The other is obviously feminine.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- Pagan and Christian traditions - have a great deal in common...
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- ..more than we are willing - to acknowledge today.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- I find a certain Celtic spirituality - in places like Strata Florida Abbey.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- This fascinates and inspires me.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- I'm drawn to the bond - between humanity and nature.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- The awareness that time, - and the age of man...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- ..is nothing - but the passage of time.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- I know these are obscure things, - impossible to put a finger on...
0:23:03 > 0:23:07- ..but this colours the way I think, - and influences my work.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- No boundaries separate - two worlds in Celtic tradition.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- There isn't a boundary - between one art form and another.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- My work is a kind of visual poetry.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- A poet's work - is full of poetic imagery.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- That makes sense in Welsh, - doesn't it?
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- In the same way, - the past is a part of our present.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35- If I succeed in conveying part - of the richness of our tradition...
0:23:35 > 0:23:40- ..to other people, and to future - generations, I'm happy in my work.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- S4C Subtitles by:- GWEAD