Collection: Russ Chester
Russ Chester - 2025 ‘Enlli’ - 12.10.2025 - 24.12.25
Ar ôl gorffen fy mhrosiect diweddaraf, ‘Chwilio am Gymru’ yn 2024, doeddwn i wir ddim yn disgwyl arddangos yn unman arall tan 2026 neu 2027, felly cefais fy synnu’n fawr i dderbyn gwahoddiad yn annisgwyl i gynnal arddangosfa unigol lawn unwaith eto yn ‘Oriel Kyffin’, ym Mhlas Glyn-y-Weddw ym mis Hydref 2025. Roeddwn i wedi bod yn chwarae gyda’r syniad o gynhyrchu cyfres o baentiadau yn darlunio Ynys Enlli, a chyda chefnogaeth yr oriel, cefais fy annog i ddatblygu’r syniad hwn ymhellach i greu corff llawn o waith.
Roeddwn i wedi ymweld â'r ynys fach nodedig hon o'r blaen, ond roedd yn rhaid i mi drefnu teithiau ychwanegol ar frys, nid yn unig i ychwanegu at fy nghasgliad o ddelweddau, ond hefyd, i geisio creu teimlad o'r lle a phenderfynu sut i gyfleu cymaint o agweddau â phosibl ar yr amgylchedd cryno ac unigryw hwn.
Fel man cychwyn, dechreuais gyfres o baentiadau bach. Yn gyntaf, er mwyn penderfynu cyfeiriad y prosiect a'm helpu i ddechrau'r broses; astudio lliwiau, trefniant, cydbwysedd, naws, gweadau a thechneg; rhai i'w datblygu'n baentiadau mwy; a rhai i aros fel yr oeddent - yn berffaith o ran eu graddfa a'u ffurf.
Rwyf bob amser yn awyddus iawn i greu 'celf fforddiadwy'. Rwy'n gwybod bod gan yr ynys afael gadarn ar feddyliau a chalonnau llawer o bobl, ac yn yr hinsawdd economaidd bresennol gobeithio y byddai'r paentiadau bach hyn yn gwasanaethu'r diben hwnnw.
Yn ail, er mai fy mwriad oedd darlunio Enlli o bob agwedd, drwy gydol y tymhorau, ac mewn amrywio amodau goleuni a naws, daeth i'm meddwl yn fuan nad yw'r lle yn ymwneud â'r dirwedd na'r lleoliad yn unig, ac roedd angen i mi fod yn fwy eang a chynhwysol yn fy mhortread. Arweiniodd hyn fi allan o fy mharth cysurlon mewn sawl ffordd; dydw i ddim yn arlunydd bywyd gwyllt, ond byddai anwybyddu'r pwnc hwn bron yn anfaddeuol! Dewisais hefyd ymgorffori ffigurau yn un o fy mhaentiadau i gynrychioli'r naratif dynol a rôl gyfredol pererindod - a roddodd broblem arall i mi yn anfwriadol - sut ydw i'n cynnwys y cyfraniad sylweddol y mae crefydd wedi'i chwarae dros y canrifoedd heb ddefnyddio symbolaeth amlwg? Roedd yr ateb ychydig yn anghonfensiynol ac yn eithaf cymhleth yn ei greu, gan ddefnyddio technegau a dulliau cwbl newydd i mi; gyda'r enw 'Enlli' wedi'i addurno'n syml yn null llawysgrif ganoloesol.
Parhaodd y broses gyfan - er ei bod yn llwyth gwaith dwys iawn - i danio fy niddordeb yn y ffordd y mae pobl yn canfod ac yn dehongli 'manylion'; gan ganiatáu i mi chwarae gyda'r gwahanol weadau, technegau a gwerthoedd tonyddol i ddatblygu y rhagdybiaethau hyn.
Mae Russ yn artist sy'n gwerthu'n rhyngwladol ac mae ei waith mewn casgliadau preifat ledled y byd. Mae wedi derbyn comisiynau o Ganada, Ffrainc, Seland Newydd, Norwy a Sbaen, ac mae'n arddangos ei waith yn orielau Llundain, Caerdydd a Gogledd Cymru. Mae hefyd yn cynnal Gweithdai gydag ysgolion ar gyfer myfyrwyr cynradd, uwchradd, lefel 'O' ac 'A'.
Delweddau i ddilyn yn fuan
Having just finished my last project ‘Looking for Wales’ in 2024, I really wasn’t expecting to exhibit anywhere else until 2026 or 2027, so was quite taken aback to unexpectedly receive an invite to hold a full solo exhibition once again in the ‘Kyffin gallery’, at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in October 2025. I’d been toying with the thought of producing a series of paintings depicting Ynys Enlli (Bardsey), and with the backing of the gallery, was encouraged to develop this idea further to create a full body of work
I’d previously visited this remarkable little island, but hastily had to arrange additional trips, not only to add to my collection of images, but also, to try and establish a feel for the place and decide how to convey as many aspects as possible of this compact and unique environment.
As a starting point I began a series of small paintings. Firstly, to work out the direction of the project and ease me into the process; studying colours, arrangement, balance, mood, textures and technique; some to work up into larger paintings; and some to remain as they were - just perfect in their scale and form.
I’m always very, very keen to create ‘affordable Art’. I know that the island has a firm grip on the mind & hearts of many people, and in the current economic climate hopefully these small paintings would serve that purpose.
Secondly, while it was my intention to depict Enlli from every aspect, throughout the seasons, and under all light conditions and moods, it soon occurred to me that the place isn’t simply about the landscape or location, and I really needed to be more expansive and inclusive in my portrayal. This led me right out of my comfort zone in several ways; I’m not a wildlife painter, but to ignore this subject would have been almost unforgivable! I also chose to incorporate figures into one of my paintings to represent the human narrative and the current role of pilgrimage - which inadvertently gave me another problem - how do I include the significant contribution that religion has played over the centuries without using obvious symbolism? The answer was slightly unorthodox and quite complicated in its creation, using techniques and methods completely new to me; with the name ’Enlli’ being simply embellished in the style of a medieval manuscript.
The whole process - while very intense as a workload - continued to fuel my interest into how people perceive and interpret ‘detail’; allowing me to play with the various textures, techniques and tonal values to exploit these preconceptions.
Russ is an internationally selling artist and has his work in private collections around the world. He has received commissions from Canada, France, New Zealand, Norway and Spain, and exhibits his work in London, Cardiff and the North Wales galleries. He also undertakes Workshops with schools for primary, secondary, ‘O’ & ‘A’ level students.
Images to follow soon
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O Uwchmynydd / From Uwchmynydd
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Trwy’r caeau / Through the fields
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Enlli i Tir Mawr / Enlli to the Mainland
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Bysedd y Cwn / Foxgloves
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Brenin Enlli - sgript/script
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Bore da Enlli / Good morning Enlli
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Carreg Bach - Dros y caeau / Carreg Bach - Over the fields
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Defaid Enlli / Enlli Sheep
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Angor Henllwyn / Henllwyn Anchor
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Llwybr Arfordir Cymru / Wales Coast Path
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Breuddwyd o Enlli / Dream of Enlli
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Machlud dros Enlli / Sunset over Enlli
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Y Llidiart / The Gate
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Nythfa Gwylogod / Guillemot
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Hel defaid / Gathering Sheep
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Mis Medi, awyr las / September, blue sky
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Carreg Bach, awyr las / Carreg Bach, blue sky
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Noson dawel, Enlli / Quiet night, Enlli
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Haul ar Enlli / Sun on Enlli
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Pererindod / A Pilgrimage
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Glaw dros Enlli / Rain over Enlli
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Awyr y bore / Morning Sky
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O Porth Neigwl / From Porth Neigwl
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Awyr Dywyll / Dark Sky
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Porth Solfach - Astudiaeth / Porth Solfach - Study
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Morlo Llwyd / Grey Seal
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Bilidowcar / Cormorant
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