Collection: Phillip Befan

Ganed Phillip John Befan ym Mhrestatyn yn 1960. Cafodd ei fagu yn Fflint a bu’n ddisgybl yn Ysgol Gwynedd.

Yn ystod ei arddegau cynnar, fe dreuliodd lawer o amser yn helpu’r cipar a’i ewythr ar fferm. Yn anffodus ni ddysgodd llawer o’r iaith yn yr ysgol, er roedd ei ewythr a’i fodryb yn deall a siarad ychydig o’r iaith.

Bu’n dyheu i ddysgu’r iaith ers hynny, ac felly ar ôl symud i fyw i Bwllheli ble bu’n byw am 12 mlynedd cyn symud i Gaernarfon, derbyniodd wersi Cymraeg yn Nant Gwrtheyrn ac yng Ngholeg Meirion Dwyfor.

Bu’n mwynhau gwersi celf yn yr ysgol gynradd ac ysgol Gwynedd er na chafodd lawer o hwyl oherwydd dulliau dysgu yn yr ysgol uwchradd. Er hynny, roedd yn mwynhau gwneud lluniau o dylluanod.

Ni wnaeth baentio am rai blynyddoedd ar ôl gadael yr ysgol gan ail ddechrau tua 20 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach. Mae’n peintio tylluanod yn bennaf gan ddefnyddio paent dyfrlliw ac weithiau inc.

Phillip John Befan was born at Prestatyn in 1960, and grew up in Flint where he attended the Gwynedd School. During his early teens he spent a lot of his time helping the local gamekeeper and his uncle on the farm.

Unfortunately he didn't learn much of the language at school, although his uncle Wally spoke Welsh and his nan understood it and spoke a little. Phillip always wished that he had learned Welsh and when he moved to Pwllheli where he lived for 12 years before moving to Caernarfon, he attended Welsh lessons at Nant Gwrtheyrn and Coleg Meirion Dwyfor. He has put considerable effort into learning and using the language.

Having enjoyed art lessons both at primary school and at the Gwynedd School, he didn't gain as much enjoyment of the subject at senior school due to the teaching methods, nevertheless he always enjoyed doodling owls. He didn't draw or paint for years after leaving school and starting work, but eventually took up painting and drawing again. He mainly paints owl caricatures using watercolour and sometimes ink - having always liked owls, his favourite being the little owl.

Phillip has also gained inspiration by getting to know many of the older generation of locals and seeing the old way of life, the old farms and smallholdings all of which he has incorporated in parts of his work.