BARDIC CHAIR – Betws school

In 2010 we were approached by Mrs F Michaelides on behalf of Betws School near Brigdend who had funding to begin an exciting programme to revive the towns bardic tradition within the school. Apparently it was in this village that the first recorded bard lived during the Middle Ages., and Bards from all over Glamorgan would come for their meetings which were held on ‘The Greensward of Song’ where there is still a remnant  of the green in the old part of the village.

In January, I (Rachel) went to the school for two days where I talked with the year 5 children about design from conception to the finished piece . We did sketches looked at timber, perspective drawing and even made origami chairs. I then did drawings based on our discussions and they voted for the winning chair. It is now in the process of being made and will be presented at the beginning of March.  Then each year a poetry competition will be held at the school, the winner taking their seat on the Bardic Chair.

I have enjoyed the experience very much and will put pictures of the completed chair on when it is finished.

OWN ART COMPETITION

In 2009, the Arts Council ran the first of their ‘Own Art Competitions’, where visitors of the shows enter to win a chance to commission an artist of their choice to make a piece for them. We were delighted that the winners - Mr & and Mrs Howorth, chose us as their preferred artists from the complete membership of ‘The Society of Designer Craftsmen’ and went on to commission a coffee table. It is made from oak and brown oak and features a two way drawer.

MUSTIQUE

Another of our very valued customers is one of the country's leading entrepreneurs and a wonderful poet. We have undertaken a number of very enjoyable commissions for him, including two bedroom suites. One cabinet has been exported to the exclusive tropical hideaway of Mustique in the Caribbean where it now sits in David Bowie's old house.

JUDE

One of our best loved clients is a lawyer from Los Angeles and her husband, a Yale scientist. They have commissioned a large amount of work for their home in the Uk. Jude is a lovely lady and we enjoyed working with her immensely, allowing us to ‘flex our creative muscles’ with the pieces we made. Below are just a few examples of her commissions.