Cyfnod Clo (2020)
Lockdown (2020)
'The Corridor' LAC Rhondda workshops book (2021)
Llyfr o'r Cwm Rhondda wedi eu creu mas o gweithdau gyda grwp LAC (2021)
On Saturdays of early 2020, writing and illustration workshops took place hosted by local writer Mike Church, with myself and a group aged between eleven and sixteen years of age who were in different circumstances but all fit under the umbrella term Looked After Children.
Funded by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, the aim was to create something that communicated the experience of the group.
In early sessions, one of the group talked about the visual metaphor of a corridor to convey the experience of struggling to get to the other side of troubling times. In an illustration workshop another created a zine which communicated the experience of being spoken to by officials. Over time we had a collection of poems and narrative and visual ideas to create a completely unique book that mixes expressive words and dream-sequence style visual narratives.
Ar ddechrau 2020, cynhaliwyd gweithdai ysgrifennu a darlunio a gynhaliwyd gan yr awdur Mike Church, gyda fi a grŵp rhwng unarddeg ac un ar bymtheg oed a oedd mewn gwahanol amgylchiadau ond i gyd yn ffitio o dan y term ymbarél "Looked After Children". Wedi'i ariannu gan Gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf, y pwynt oedd i creu rhywbeth a oedd yn cyfleu profiad y grŵp. Mewn sesiynau cynnar, soniodd un o'r grŵp am drosiad gweledol coridor i gyfleu'r profiad o frwydro i gyrraedd ochr arall amseroedd anodd. Mewn gweithdy darlunio creodd un arall gylchgrawn a oedd yn cyfleu'r profiad o siarad â swyddogion. Dros amser cawsom gasgliad o gerddi a naratif a syniadau gweledol i greu llyfr cwbl unigryw sy'n cymysgu geiriau mynegiadol a naratifau gweledol arddull dilyniant breuddwyd.
Funded by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, the aim was to create something that communicated the experience of the group.
In early sessions, one of the group talked about the visual metaphor of a corridor to convey the experience of struggling to get to the other side of troubling times. In an illustration workshop another created a zine which communicated the experience of being spoken to by officials. Over time we had a collection of poems and narrative and visual ideas to create a completely unique book that mixes expressive words and dream-sequence style visual narratives.
Ar ddechrau 2020, cynhaliwyd gweithdai ysgrifennu a darlunio a gynhaliwyd gan yr awdur Mike Church, gyda fi a grŵp rhwng unarddeg ac un ar bymtheg oed a oedd mewn gwahanol amgylchiadau ond i gyd yn ffitio o dan y term ymbarél "Looked After Children". Wedi'i ariannu gan Gyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf, y pwynt oedd i creu rhywbeth a oedd yn cyfleu profiad y grŵp. Mewn sesiynau cynnar, soniodd un o'r grŵp am drosiad gweledol coridor i gyfleu'r profiad o frwydro i gyrraedd ochr arall amseroedd anodd. Mewn gweithdy darlunio creodd un arall gylchgrawn a oedd yn cyfleu'r profiad o siarad â swyddogion. Dros amser cawsom gasgliad o gerddi a naratif a syniadau gweledol i greu llyfr cwbl unigryw sy'n cymysgu geiriau mynegiadol a naratifau gweledol arddull dilyniant breuddwyd.
Scarers and Carers (2021)
Gofalwyr Brawychus (2021)
Children's book about young carers and toxic masculinity. Scarers & Carers was written in Zoom workshops with Writer Mike Church with a group of Young Carers in Merthyr, funded by Barnado’s Cymru and published by Stephens & George In Merthyr (contact them for a copy) Graphic design by Andy Dark
Llyfr plant am ofalwyr ifanc a gwrywdod gwenwynig. Ysgrifennwyd 'Scarers & Carers' mewn gweithdai Zoom gyda’r Awdur Mike Church ac grŵp o Ofalwyr Ifanc ym Merthyr, a ariannwyd gan Barnado’s Cymru ac a gyhoeddwyd gan Stephens & George ym Merthyr (cysylltwch â nhw am gopi) Dyluniad graffig gan Andy Dark
Llyfr plant am ofalwyr ifanc a gwrywdod gwenwynig. Ysgrifennwyd 'Scarers & Carers' mewn gweithdai Zoom gyda’r Awdur Mike Church ac grŵp o Ofalwyr Ifanc ym Merthyr, a ariannwyd gan Barnado’s Cymru ac a gyhoeddwyd gan Stephens & George ym Merthyr (cysylltwch â nhw am gopi) Dyluniad graffig gan Andy Dark
Clown in Space (2021)
Clown yn y Nefoedd (2021)
Written in post-lockdown workshops in a Pupil Referral Unit in Pen-y-Graig in the Rhondda valley. Workshop host Mike Church wove a story from the imagination of three groups of boys who had in their mind the idea of a clown who wanted to run away from the Tonypandy circus, into space.
Wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn gweithdai ar ol yr ail Lockdown mewn P.R.U ym Mhen-y-Graig yn nyffryn Rhondda. Wnaeth awdur Mike Church creu stori o ddychymyg tri grŵp o fechgyn gyda syniad o glown a oedd am redeg i ffwrdd o'r syrcas yn Tonypandy, i'r gofod.
Wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn gweithdai ar ol yr ail Lockdown mewn P.R.U ym Mhen-y-Graig yn nyffryn Rhondda. Wnaeth awdur Mike Church creu stori o ddychymyg tri grŵp o fechgyn gyda syniad o glown a oedd am redeg i ffwrdd o'r syrcas yn Tonypandy, i'r gofod.
'Ar Werth' (2021)
Gan ddefnyddio fformat dilyniant breuddwyd y llyfr 'Coridor', creais ddarluniau ar naratif i Gyfryngau Cymru eu defnyddio, y tro hwn yn delio â mater yr argyfwng iaith a chymunedol yng Nghymru oherwydd nad oedd pobl yn cael ddigon o pres i byw yn eu cymunedau.
Using the Corridor book's dream sequence format, I created more narrative based illustrations for Welsh Media to use, this time dealing with the issue of the language and community crisis in Wales due to people not being able to afford to live in their communities.
Using the Corridor book's dream sequence format, I created more narrative based illustrations for Welsh Media to use, this time dealing with the issue of the language and community crisis in Wales due to people not being able to afford to live in their communities.
'Geiriau o Ystod y Cyfnod Clo' (2022)
'Lyrics and Lines from Lockdown' (2022)
Llyfr o geiriau gan gofalwyr ifanc yn Merthyr. Crëwyd y geiriau mewn gweithdy barddoniaeth. Ar o hwna, y syniad oedd darlunio'r teimladau y geiriau, mewn i naratif, yn defnyddio cymeriad a gafodd ei greu allan o linellau.
A book project was handed to me to be created using the words, lyrics and rhymes of a group of Young Carers in Merthyr Tydfil. They had created the poems/rhymes already. My task was to illustrate their sentiments throughout the book.
A book project was handed to me to be created using the words, lyrics and rhymes of a group of Young Carers in Merthyr Tydfil. They had created the poems/rhymes already. My task was to illustrate their sentiments throughout the book.
Abersychan Poetry Project
Prosiect Barddoniaeth Abersychan
Posters and illustrated poetry collection written in Writing and Illustration workshops with a group of five (from year 7 and 8) at Abersychan School, with writer Mike Church. The project was organised and funded by Literature Wales.
Posteri a chasgliad barddoniaeth darluniadol wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn gweithdai Ysgrifennu a Darlunio gyda grŵp o bump (o flwyddyn 7 ac 8) yn Ysgol Abersychan, gyda'r awdur Mike Church. Trefnwyd ac ariannwyd y prosiect gan Llenyddiaeth Cymru.
Posteri a chasgliad barddoniaeth darluniadol wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn gweithdai Ysgrifennu a Darlunio gyda grŵp o bump (o flwyddyn 7 ac 8) yn Ysgol Abersychan, gyda'r awdur Mike Church. Trefnwyd ac ariannwyd y prosiect gan Llenyddiaeth Cymru.
The One Percent Protest (2018)
Toriaid ar Bicnic. (2018)
Writer and Poet Mike Church asked me to contribute some illustrations to his new poetry book. In late 2017 he sent me the collection to read. I loved the introspection and integrity that his words communicate whilst also setting the context of a neglected local landscape, which I wanted to play into by visually adding who i saw as the enemies of the piece. The illustrations i created are The One Percent Protest. This protest occurs on each page of the book, beside or beneath Mike's poetry, which is heartfelt, politically engaged, and to me comes across as a daily fight for optimism and empathy in the front-lines of a post-industrial Neo-liberal society. These characters are who he's up against. Contact Mike Church to purchase a copy at mikechurch.net or from Red poets / Glamorgan Press.
Gofynnodd yr Awdur a'r Bardd Mike Church i mi gyfrannu rhai lluniau i'w lyfr barddoniaeth newydd. Ar diwedd 2017 anfonodd y casgliad ataf i i ddarllen. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd â'r ymyrraeth a'r uniondeb y mae ei eiriau'n eu cyfathrebu tra hefyd yn gosod cyd-destun tirwedd leol a esgeuluswyd, yr oeddwn am chwarae ynddo trwy ychwanegu'n weledol pwy welais i fel gelynion y darn. Y lluniau a greais yw The One Percent Protest. Mae'r brotest hon yn digwydd ar bob tudalen o'r llyfr, wrth ochr neu o dan farddoniaeth Mike, sy'n galonog, yn wleidyddol, ac i mi yn dod ar draws fel brwydr ddyddiol dros optimistiaeth ac empathi yn rheng flaen cymdeithas Neo-Liberal a post-industrial . Y cymeriadau hyn yw pwy mae'n ei erbyn. Cysylltwch â Mike Church i brynu copi tuag @ mikechurch.net. neu oddi wrth Gwasg Red Poets / Glamorgan Press
Gofynnodd yr Awdur a'r Bardd Mike Church i mi gyfrannu rhai lluniau i'w lyfr barddoniaeth newydd. Ar diwedd 2017 anfonodd y casgliad ataf i i ddarllen. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd â'r ymyrraeth a'r uniondeb y mae ei eiriau'n eu cyfathrebu tra hefyd yn gosod cyd-destun tirwedd leol a esgeuluswyd, yr oeddwn am chwarae ynddo trwy ychwanegu'n weledol pwy welais i fel gelynion y darn. Y lluniau a greais yw The One Percent Protest. Mae'r brotest hon yn digwydd ar bob tudalen o'r llyfr, wrth ochr neu o dan farddoniaeth Mike, sy'n galonog, yn wleidyddol, ac i mi yn dod ar draws fel brwydr ddyddiol dros optimistiaeth ac empathi yn rheng flaen cymdeithas Neo-Liberal a post-industrial . Y cymeriadau hyn yw pwy mae'n ei erbyn. Cysylltwch â Mike Church i brynu copi tuag @ mikechurch.net. neu oddi wrth Gwasg Red Poets / Glamorgan Press
'2146' (2018)
The year 2146. Flat-Earthers have taken control of the globe. Knowledge is scarce. Superstition is rife. Geoff Tate is a land worker who's curiosity overpowers his fear.
2146 was written with Mike Church in workshops in Aberbargoed in mid 2018 with the Innovative Programme. I attended some of the later workshops and the group came up with some visual ideas for the world of the story also. The narrative is a darkly comic dystopian satire. The Illustrations needed to carry this mood.
Y flwyddyn yw 2146. Mae "Flat-Earthers" wedi cymryd drosodd y byd. Mae gwybodaeth yn brin. Mae ofergoeliaeth yn rhemp. Mae Geoff Tate yn weithiwr tir y mae chwilfrydedd yn trechu ei ofn.
Cafodd 2146 ei ysgryfenni gyda Mike Church mewn gweithdai yn Aberbargoed yng nghanol 2018 gyda'r Rhaglen Arloesol/ Innovative Programme. Mynychais rai o'r gweithdai diweddarach a lluniodd y grŵp rai syniadau gweledol ar gyfer byd y stori hefyd. Mae'r naratif yn dystopaidd comig; yn tywyll ac yn doniol. Roedd angen i'r darluniau gario'r bwynt hon.
2146 was written with Mike Church in workshops in Aberbargoed in mid 2018 with the Innovative Programme. I attended some of the later workshops and the group came up with some visual ideas for the world of the story also. The narrative is a darkly comic dystopian satire. The Illustrations needed to carry this mood.
Y flwyddyn yw 2146. Mae "Flat-Earthers" wedi cymryd drosodd y byd. Mae gwybodaeth yn brin. Mae ofergoeliaeth yn rhemp. Mae Geoff Tate yn weithiwr tir y mae chwilfrydedd yn trechu ei ofn.
Cafodd 2146 ei ysgryfenni gyda Mike Church mewn gweithdai yn Aberbargoed yng nghanol 2018 gyda'r Rhaglen Arloesol/ Innovative Programme. Mynychais rai o'r gweithdai diweddarach a lluniodd y grŵp rai syniadau gweledol ar gyfer byd y stori hefyd. Mae'r naratif yn dystopaidd comig; yn tywyll ac yn doniol. Roedd angen i'r darluniau gario'r bwynt hon.
Shoes don't Grow on Trees (2018)
Nid yw Esgidiau'n Tyfu ar Coed. (2018)
Children's book illustrated for Literature Wales in June 2018.
The Text I was handed to work from was a lot of dialogue and actions and so the scenery and characters were mine to invent.
All I had to go on was that the main characters (a mum and her two daughters) were too poor for shoes.
After working through a few designs I decided to base the story at the family farmhouse i grew up in, with the mum character visually based on a mixture of my gran and the welsh fictional children's character Sali Mali.
I think that basing the drawings on a such a familiar place makes the visual world of the story stronger.
Llyfr plant wedi'i ddarlunio ar gyfer Llenyddiaeth Cymru ym mis Mehefin 2018.
Roedd y Testun y cefais i weithio ohono yn llawer o ddeialog a gweithredoedd ac felly roedd y golygfeydd a'r cymeriadau yn rhai i mi eu dyfeisio. Y cyfan oedd yn rhaid i mi fynd ymlaen oedd bod y prif gymeriadau (mam a'i dwy ferch) yn rhy tlawd i prynnu esgidiau. Ar ôl gweithio trwy ychydig o ddyluniadau, penderfynais seilio'r stori yn y ffermdy teuluol y cefais fy magu ynddo, gyda'r cymeriad mam wedi'i seilio'n weledol ar gymysgedd o fy mam-gu a chymeriad ffuglennol plant Cymraeg; Sali Mali. Credaf fod seilio'r lluniadau ar le mor gyfarwydd yn gwneud byd gweledol y stori yn gryfach.
The Text I was handed to work from was a lot of dialogue and actions and so the scenery and characters were mine to invent.
All I had to go on was that the main characters (a mum and her two daughters) were too poor for shoes.
After working through a few designs I decided to base the story at the family farmhouse i grew up in, with the mum character visually based on a mixture of my gran and the welsh fictional children's character Sali Mali.
I think that basing the drawings on a such a familiar place makes the visual world of the story stronger.
Llyfr plant wedi'i ddarlunio ar gyfer Llenyddiaeth Cymru ym mis Mehefin 2018.
Roedd y Testun y cefais i weithio ohono yn llawer o ddeialog a gweithredoedd ac felly roedd y golygfeydd a'r cymeriadau yn rhai i mi eu dyfeisio. Y cyfan oedd yn rhaid i mi fynd ymlaen oedd bod y prif gymeriadau (mam a'i dwy ferch) yn rhy tlawd i prynnu esgidiau. Ar ôl gweithio trwy ychydig o ddyluniadau, penderfynais seilio'r stori yn y ffermdy teuluol y cefais fy magu ynddo, gyda'r cymeriad mam wedi'i seilio'n weledol ar gymysgedd o fy mam-gu a chymeriad ffuglennol plant Cymraeg; Sali Mali. Credaf fod seilio'r lluniadau ar le mor gyfarwydd yn gwneud byd gweledol y stori yn gryfach.
My Illustrated book about a father's struggle to raise two children whilst dealing with his own empathy issues. These characters were invented whilst I studied two-thousand years of western comedy for my dissertation.
My thesis was 'You can extrapolate public opinion, and in turn morality through the study of humorous cultural artefacts'.
Visible here are some pages taken from the full graphic novel.
Fy llyfr darluniadol am frwydr tad i fagu dau o blant wrth ddelio gyda a'i problemau empathi. Dyfeisiwyd y cymeriadau hyn wrth astudio dwy fil o flynyddoedd o gomedi "western" ar gyfer fy nhraethawd hir.
Fy nhraethawd ymchwil oedd 'Gallwch allosod barn y cyhoedd, ac yn ei dro moesoldeb trwy astudio arteffactau diwylliannol doniol'.
Yn weladwy yma mae rhau o thudalenau wedi'u cymryd o'r nofel graffig llawn.
My thesis was 'You can extrapolate public opinion, and in turn morality through the study of humorous cultural artefacts'.
Visible here are some pages taken from the full graphic novel.
Fy llyfr darluniadol am frwydr tad i fagu dau o blant wrth ddelio gyda a'i problemau empathi. Dyfeisiwyd y cymeriadau hyn wrth astudio dwy fil o flynyddoedd o gomedi "western" ar gyfer fy nhraethawd hir.
Fy nhraethawd ymchwil oedd 'Gallwch allosod barn y cyhoedd, ac yn ei dro moesoldeb trwy astudio arteffactau diwylliannol doniol'.
Yn weladwy yma mae rhau o thudalenau wedi'u cymryd o'r nofel graffig llawn.
National Theatre Wales Project: Lifted by Beauty : Adventures in Dreaming. (2017)
Eng lang:
Lifted by Beauty : Adventures in Dreaming was a community Theatre piece by National Theatre Wales and Mark Storor.
https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/lifted-beauty
As the illustrator for this production I lived in Rhyl for a week, mostly illustrating the story of the project at National Theatre Wales' shop at 66 High st. The stories and activities that fed into the final production on the weekend of 31st March - 2nd April 2017 came from months of National Theatre Wales and Mark Storor working with inspirational community groups in Rhyl.
My work was to illustrate the information and stories gathered during the week leading up to the show. The information came in the form of spoken stories and descriptions through Mark, songs and poetry in writing from residents of Rhyl, workshops (some of which i was able to attend) and from Mark and National Theatre Wales showing/explaining to me parts of the production and also some personally gathered history of Rhyl.
Working on Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming was an emotional experience; I was learning a lot about the town's history as a successful seaside tourist resort which carried a lot of happy memories for it's residents, and also it's history of being a comfortable destination for evacuees and the optimistic feel this gave to the town. But I was also steeped in the personal information (poetry writing and 2nd hand stories) of the individuals that are trying to build stronger communities in Rhyl which has a reputation as a rough, struggling town. On top of this I was meeting people throughout the week, hearing their responses to Rhyl being the setting and theme of this creative project. Their responses were often based in a kind of fear of optimism whilst also being very interested.
Having immersed myself in Rhyl so thoroughly meant that by the final performance (in part of which I illustrate the windows of a greenhouse in one of the car-park installations) Mark's visuals and Brian Duffy's music/sounds were both so haunting and at the same time optimistic that I felt I could have carried on investigating Rhyl for years.
Below are pictures of only my part (for others, see NAT website and twitter) in the production 'Lifted by Beauty : Adventures in Dreaming' a project that I am very grateful for having been able to work on.
Photos by Stephen King / National Theatre Wales
Cymraeg:
Roedd Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming yn ddarn Theatr gymunedol gan National Theatre Wales a Mark Storor.
https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/lifted-beauty
Fel darlunydd y cynhyrchiad hwn roeddwn i'n byw yn y Rhyl am wythnos, gan ddarlunio stori'r prosiect yn siop National Theatre Wales yn 66 High st yn bennaf. Daeth y straeon a’r gweithgareddau a fwydodd i mewn i’r cynhyrchiad olaf ar benwythnos 31ain Mawrth - 2il Ebrill 2017 o fisoedd o Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru a Mark Storor yn gweithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol ysbrydoledig yn y Rhyl.
Fy ngwaith oedd darlunio’r wybodaeth a’r straeon a gasglwyd yn ystod yr wythnos yn arwain at y sioe. Daeth y wybodaeth ar ffurf straeon llafar a disgrifiadau trwy Mark, caneuon a barddoniaeth yn ysgrifenedig gan drigolion y Rhyl, gweithdai (y llwyddais i fynychu rhai ohonynt) a chan Mark a Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru yn dangos / egluro i mi rannau o'r cynhyrchu a hefyd rhywfaint o hanes a gasglwyd yn bersonol am y Rhyl.
Roedd Gweithio ar Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming yn brofiad emosiynol; Roeddwn i'n dysgu llawer am hanes y dref fel cyrchfan dwristiaid glan môr lwyddiannus a oedd â llawer o atgofion hapus i'w thrigolion, a hefyd ei hanes o fod yn gyrchfan gyffyrddus i faciwîs a'r teimlad optimistaidd a roddodd hyn i'r dref. Ond cefais fy nhroi hefyd yng ngwybodaeth bersonol (ysgrifennu barddoniaeth a straeon ail law) yr unigolion sy'n ceisio adeiladu cymunedau cryfach yn y Rhyl sydd ag enw da fel tref arw sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd. Ar ben hyn roeddwn yn cwrdd â phobl trwy gydol yr wythnos, gan glywed eu hymatebion i Rhyl fel lleoliad a thema'r prosiect creadigol hwn. Roedd eu hymatebion yn aml wedi'u seilio mewn math o ofn optimistiaeth tra bod ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb mawr hefyd.
Ar ôl ymgolli yn y Rhyl mor drylwyr, roedd y perfformiad terfynol (yr wyf yn darlunio ffenestri tŷ gwydr yn un o'r gosodiadau maes parcio yn rhan ohono) yn weledol Mark ac roedd cerddoriaeth / synau Brian Duffy mor ddychrynllyd ac ar yr un peth amser yn optimistaidd fy mod i'n teimlo y gallwn fod wedi parhau i ymchwilio i'r Rhyl ers blynyddoedd.
Isod mae lluniau o ddim ond fy rhan i (i eraill, gweler gwefan a twitter NAT) yn y cynhyrchiad 'Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming', prosiect rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am allu gweithio arno.
Lluniau gan Stephen King / Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru
Lifted by Beauty : Adventures in Dreaming was a community Theatre piece by National Theatre Wales and Mark Storor.
https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/lifted-beauty
As the illustrator for this production I lived in Rhyl for a week, mostly illustrating the story of the project at National Theatre Wales' shop at 66 High st. The stories and activities that fed into the final production on the weekend of 31st March - 2nd April 2017 came from months of National Theatre Wales and Mark Storor working with inspirational community groups in Rhyl.
My work was to illustrate the information and stories gathered during the week leading up to the show. The information came in the form of spoken stories and descriptions through Mark, songs and poetry in writing from residents of Rhyl, workshops (some of which i was able to attend) and from Mark and National Theatre Wales showing/explaining to me parts of the production and also some personally gathered history of Rhyl.
Working on Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming was an emotional experience; I was learning a lot about the town's history as a successful seaside tourist resort which carried a lot of happy memories for it's residents, and also it's history of being a comfortable destination for evacuees and the optimistic feel this gave to the town. But I was also steeped in the personal information (poetry writing and 2nd hand stories) of the individuals that are trying to build stronger communities in Rhyl which has a reputation as a rough, struggling town. On top of this I was meeting people throughout the week, hearing their responses to Rhyl being the setting and theme of this creative project. Their responses were often based in a kind of fear of optimism whilst also being very interested.
Having immersed myself in Rhyl so thoroughly meant that by the final performance (in part of which I illustrate the windows of a greenhouse in one of the car-park installations) Mark's visuals and Brian Duffy's music/sounds were both so haunting and at the same time optimistic that I felt I could have carried on investigating Rhyl for years.
Below are pictures of only my part (for others, see NAT website and twitter) in the production 'Lifted by Beauty : Adventures in Dreaming' a project that I am very grateful for having been able to work on.
Photos by Stephen King / National Theatre Wales
Cymraeg:
Roedd Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming yn ddarn Theatr gymunedol gan National Theatre Wales a Mark Storor.
https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/lifted-beauty
Fel darlunydd y cynhyrchiad hwn roeddwn i'n byw yn y Rhyl am wythnos, gan ddarlunio stori'r prosiect yn siop National Theatre Wales yn 66 High st yn bennaf. Daeth y straeon a’r gweithgareddau a fwydodd i mewn i’r cynhyrchiad olaf ar benwythnos 31ain Mawrth - 2il Ebrill 2017 o fisoedd o Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru a Mark Storor yn gweithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol ysbrydoledig yn y Rhyl.
Fy ngwaith oedd darlunio’r wybodaeth a’r straeon a gasglwyd yn ystod yr wythnos yn arwain at y sioe. Daeth y wybodaeth ar ffurf straeon llafar a disgrifiadau trwy Mark, caneuon a barddoniaeth yn ysgrifenedig gan drigolion y Rhyl, gweithdai (y llwyddais i fynychu rhai ohonynt) a chan Mark a Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru yn dangos / egluro i mi rannau o'r cynhyrchu a hefyd rhywfaint o hanes a gasglwyd yn bersonol am y Rhyl.
Roedd Gweithio ar Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming yn brofiad emosiynol; Roeddwn i'n dysgu llawer am hanes y dref fel cyrchfan dwristiaid glan môr lwyddiannus a oedd â llawer o atgofion hapus i'w thrigolion, a hefyd ei hanes o fod yn gyrchfan gyffyrddus i faciwîs a'r teimlad optimistaidd a roddodd hyn i'r dref. Ond cefais fy nhroi hefyd yng ngwybodaeth bersonol (ysgrifennu barddoniaeth a straeon ail law) yr unigolion sy'n ceisio adeiladu cymunedau cryfach yn y Rhyl sydd ag enw da fel tref arw sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd. Ar ben hyn roeddwn yn cwrdd â phobl trwy gydol yr wythnos, gan glywed eu hymatebion i Rhyl fel lleoliad a thema'r prosiect creadigol hwn. Roedd eu hymatebion yn aml wedi'u seilio mewn math o ofn optimistiaeth tra bod ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb mawr hefyd.
Ar ôl ymgolli yn y Rhyl mor drylwyr, roedd y perfformiad terfynol (yr wyf yn darlunio ffenestri tŷ gwydr yn un o'r gosodiadau maes parcio yn rhan ohono) yn weledol Mark ac roedd cerddoriaeth / synau Brian Duffy mor ddychrynllyd ac ar yr un peth amser yn optimistaidd fy mod i'n teimlo y gallwn fod wedi parhau i ymchwilio i'r Rhyl ers blynyddoedd.
Isod mae lluniau o ddim ond fy rhan i (i eraill, gweler gwefan a twitter NAT) yn y cynhyrchiad 'Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming', prosiect rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am allu gweithio arno.
Lluniau gan Stephen King / Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru
The Bargoed Miracle (2016)
The Bargoed Miracle is a graphic novel born from a Communities First project in partnership with Literature Wales, Caerphily Arts Development, and Petra Publishing.
The story was written in workshops hosted by Mike Church at the Innovative Project in Rhymney in the south-Wales valleys. The writing team attended this alternative school because for various reasons they didn't click with mainstream education. The story that they came up with is a very lively and also very particular in parts to the local knowledge but which all readers can empathise with.
One of the strategies used to develop the characters was to act out an episode of the Jeremy Kyle show. Through this method Mrs Hargreaves and her seven children were created.
The story was since reinterpreted as a play at a nearby school.
This was a great project to be part of.
Nofel graffig yw'r 'Bargoed Miracle' a cafordd ei eni o brosiect Communities First mewn partneriaeth â Literature Wales, Caerphily Arts Development, a Petra Publishing.
Ysgrifennwyd y stori mewn gweithdai a gynhaliwyd gan Mike Church yn y Prosiect Arloesol yn Rhymney yng nghymoedd de-Gymru. Mynychodd y tîm ysgrifennu yr ysgol amgen hon oherwydd am wahanol resymau nid oeddent yn clicio gydag addysg brif ffrwd. Mae'r stori y gwnaethant feddwl amdani yn un fywiog iawn a hefyd yn arbennig iawn mewn rhannau o'r wybodaeth leol ond y gall pob darllenydd ddangos empathi â hi. Un o'r strategaethau a ddefnyddiwyd i ddatblygu'r cymeriadau oedd actio pennod o sioe Jeremy Kyle. Trwy'r dull hwn crëwyd Mrs Hargreaves a'i saith plentyn.
Ers hynny, cafodd y stori ei hail-ddehongli fel sioe drama mewn ysgol gyfagos - Roedd hwn yn brosiect gwych i fod yn rhan ohono.
The story was written in workshops hosted by Mike Church at the Innovative Project in Rhymney in the south-Wales valleys. The writing team attended this alternative school because for various reasons they didn't click with mainstream education. The story that they came up with is a very lively and also very particular in parts to the local knowledge but which all readers can empathise with.
One of the strategies used to develop the characters was to act out an episode of the Jeremy Kyle show. Through this method Mrs Hargreaves and her seven children were created.
The story was since reinterpreted as a play at a nearby school.
This was a great project to be part of.
Nofel graffig yw'r 'Bargoed Miracle' a cafordd ei eni o brosiect Communities First mewn partneriaeth â Literature Wales, Caerphily Arts Development, a Petra Publishing.
Ysgrifennwyd y stori mewn gweithdai a gynhaliwyd gan Mike Church yn y Prosiect Arloesol yn Rhymney yng nghymoedd de-Gymru. Mynychodd y tîm ysgrifennu yr ysgol amgen hon oherwydd am wahanol resymau nid oeddent yn clicio gydag addysg brif ffrwd. Mae'r stori y gwnaethant feddwl amdani yn un fywiog iawn a hefyd yn arbennig iawn mewn rhannau o'r wybodaeth leol ond y gall pob darllenydd ddangos empathi â hi. Un o'r strategaethau a ddefnyddiwyd i ddatblygu'r cymeriadau oedd actio pennod o sioe Jeremy Kyle. Trwy'r dull hwn crëwyd Mrs Hargreaves a'i saith plentyn.
Ers hynny, cafodd y stori ei hail-ddehongli fel sioe drama mewn ysgol gyfagos - Roedd hwn yn brosiect gwych i fod yn rhan ohono.
The Mouse and the Mine (2017)
Y Llygod yn y Glo (2017)
This children's book was written by Mike Church in early 2017 through conversations we had with residents of Aberbargoed. They were miners and families of miners who spoke about their experiences of mining, community and camaraderie. What I took from hearing their stories and feelings towards mining was that the strong camaraderie they shared and now missed was born from a shared experience of tough work and often danger. I remember the sentiment was shared that although they missed the mines, they would not want their own children and grandchildren to work in them. The miners we spoke to said that their own miner fathers had also wished for their sons to find other kinds of employment rather than join them at the coal pits. This mixed feeling of slight regret with warm sentimentality and solidarity was something we wanted to capture in this story.
Film makers 'Made in Tredegar' documented parts of the day in a short film to accompany the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1f3rAfKbJs
The mouse and the Mine is by Petra Publishing. British Library ISBN 978-0-9957827-2-3
Ysgrifennwyd y llyfr hwn gan Mike Church yn gynnar yn 2017 trwy sgyrsiau a gawsom gyda teuluoedd yn Aberbargoed. Roeddent yn lowyr ac yn deuluoedd glowyr a siaradodd am eu profiadau o fwyngloddio, ac y cymunedau a oedd nhwn'n byw. Yr hyn a gymerais o glywed eu straeon a’u teimladau tuag at fwyngloddio oedd bod y cyfeillgarwch cryf yr oeddent yn ei rannu ac a gollwyd yn achlysurol bellach yn cael ei eni o brofiad a rennir o waith caled, ac yn aml yn berygl. Rwy'n cofio i'r teimlad gael ei rannu, er eu bod yn colli'r mwyngloddiau, na fyddent nhw isho plant nhw i weithio ynddynt. Dywedodd y glowyr fod eu tadau glöwr nhw ddim isho nhw ei hunain hefyd i gweithio lawr yn y pwll glo. Roedd y teimlad cymysg hwn o edifeirwch gyda sentimentaliaeth gynnes a chydsafiad yn rhywbeth yr oeddem am ei dal yn y stori hon.
Mae yna ffilm byr, 'Made in Tredegar' yn dogfennu rhannau o'r dydd i gyd-fynd â'r llyfr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1f3rAfKbJs
Mae'r llygoden a'r mwynglawdd trwy Petra Publishing. Llyfrgell Brydeinig ISBN 978-0-9957827-2-3
Film makers 'Made in Tredegar' documented parts of the day in a short film to accompany the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1f3rAfKbJs
The mouse and the Mine is by Petra Publishing. British Library ISBN 978-0-9957827-2-3
Ysgrifennwyd y llyfr hwn gan Mike Church yn gynnar yn 2017 trwy sgyrsiau a gawsom gyda teuluoedd yn Aberbargoed. Roeddent yn lowyr ac yn deuluoedd glowyr a siaradodd am eu profiadau o fwyngloddio, ac y cymunedau a oedd nhwn'n byw. Yr hyn a gymerais o glywed eu straeon a’u teimladau tuag at fwyngloddio oedd bod y cyfeillgarwch cryf yr oeddent yn ei rannu ac a gollwyd yn achlysurol bellach yn cael ei eni o brofiad a rennir o waith caled, ac yn aml yn berygl. Rwy'n cofio i'r teimlad gael ei rannu, er eu bod yn colli'r mwyngloddiau, na fyddent nhw isho plant nhw i weithio ynddynt. Dywedodd y glowyr fod eu tadau glöwr nhw ddim isho nhw ei hunain hefyd i gweithio lawr yn y pwll glo. Roedd y teimlad cymysg hwn o edifeirwch gyda sentimentaliaeth gynnes a chydsafiad yn rhywbeth yr oeddem am ei dal yn y stori hon.
Mae yna ffilm byr, 'Made in Tredegar' yn dogfennu rhannau o'r dydd i gyd-fynd â'r llyfr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1f3rAfKbJs
Mae'r llygoden a'r mwynglawdd trwy Petra Publishing. Llyfrgell Brydeinig ISBN 978-0-9957827-2-3
The Boy who Rode a Sheep to School (2017)
Y Bachgen a Yrrodd Dafad i Ysgol (2017)
A Children's book I illustrated for Petra Publishing.
Written in Mike Church's writing workshops in Fochriw where the story is based, the narrative revolves around the valleys village in which the sheep are free to roam the gardens and roads and fields of the village due to the lack of fences.
I cycled with my camera to Fochriw from the nearest train station to get an idea of what the illustrations would look like. The day I chose happened to be a golden sunny day (but freezing - this was winter in late 2017). So my illustrations for this book I think carried on the colours of that day.
'The Boy Who Rode a Sheep to School', llyfr plant a ddarluniais ar gyfer Petra Publishing.
Wedi'i ysgrifennu yng ngweithdai ysgrifennu Mike Church yn Fochriw lle mae'r stori'n digwydd, mae'r naratif yn troi o amgylch pentref y cymoedd lle mae'r defaid yn rhydd i grwydro'r gerddi, a'r ffyrdd a'r chaeau'r pentref. Fe wnes i feicio gyda fy nghamera i Fochriw o'r orsaf reilffordd agosaf i gael syniad o sut olwg fyddai ar y lluniau. Roedd y diwrnod a ddewisais yn digwydd bod yn ddiwrnod heulog euraidd (ond yn rhewi - roedd hwn yn aeaf yn hwyr yn 2017). Felly roedd fy lluniau ar gyfer y llyfr hwn yn cario lliwiau'r diwrnod hwnnw.
Written in Mike Church's writing workshops in Fochriw where the story is based, the narrative revolves around the valleys village in which the sheep are free to roam the gardens and roads and fields of the village due to the lack of fences.
I cycled with my camera to Fochriw from the nearest train station to get an idea of what the illustrations would look like. The day I chose happened to be a golden sunny day (but freezing - this was winter in late 2017). So my illustrations for this book I think carried on the colours of that day.
'The Boy Who Rode a Sheep to School', llyfr plant a ddarluniais ar gyfer Petra Publishing.
Wedi'i ysgrifennu yng ngweithdai ysgrifennu Mike Church yn Fochriw lle mae'r stori'n digwydd, mae'r naratif yn troi o amgylch pentref y cymoedd lle mae'r defaid yn rhydd i grwydro'r gerddi, a'r ffyrdd a'r chaeau'r pentref. Fe wnes i feicio gyda fy nghamera i Fochriw o'r orsaf reilffordd agosaf i gael syniad o sut olwg fyddai ar y lluniau. Roedd y diwrnod a ddewisais yn digwydd bod yn ddiwrnod heulog euraidd (ond yn rhewi - roedd hwn yn aeaf yn hwyr yn 2017). Felly roedd fy lluniau ar gyfer y llyfr hwn yn cario lliwiau'r diwrnod hwnnw.
The Bear who Struggled to Care (2018)
Yr arth fanc sydd am dianc (2018)
Commissioned by Barnados and Young Carers Bridgend interested in communicating the experience of Young Carers.
This book was written again with Mike Church and a writing workshop group of Young Carers in Bridgend.
The book follows a young bear who is struggling with his new family dynamic.
Wedi'i gomisiynu gan Barnados, gyda Young Carers Bridgend, sydd â diddordeb mewn cyfleu profiad Gofalwyr Ifanc.
Ysgrifennwyd y llyfr hwn eto gyda Mike Church a grŵp gweithdy-ysgrifennu o Ofalwyr Ifanc ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Mae'r llyfr yn dilyn arth ifanc sy'n cael trafferth gyda deinameg ei deulu newydd.
This book was written again with Mike Church and a writing workshop group of Young Carers in Bridgend.
The book follows a young bear who is struggling with his new family dynamic.
Wedi'i gomisiynu gan Barnados, gyda Young Carers Bridgend, sydd â diddordeb mewn cyfleu profiad Gofalwyr Ifanc.
Ysgrifennwyd y llyfr hwn eto gyda Mike Church a grŵp gweithdy-ysgrifennu o Ofalwyr Ifanc ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Mae'r llyfr yn dilyn arth ifanc sy'n cael trafferth gyda deinameg ei deulu newydd.
Zine 'Yr Coridor' (2020)
At Rhondda Sports Centre workshops in early 2020 Writer Mike Church, myself and a group of Looked After Children created an illustrated poetry and story book - here is a zine we created early on through a combination of ideas that the group had of a corridor within the mind and of struggles to communicate with those around us.
Yng ngweithdai Canolfan Chwaraeon Rhondda yn gynnar yn 2020, creodd yr awdur Mike Church, Mike Church, a grŵp o "Looked After Children (LAC)" lyfr barddoniaeth a stori darluniadol - dyma gylch y gwnaethom ei greu yn gynnar trwy gyfuniad o syniadau a oedd gan y grŵp ambyty goridor o fewn y meddwl ac ambyty frwydrau i gyfathrebu gyda pobl ni'n nabod.
Yng ngweithdai Canolfan Chwaraeon Rhondda yn gynnar yn 2020, creodd yr awdur Mike Church, Mike Church, a grŵp o "Looked After Children (LAC)" lyfr barddoniaeth a stori darluniadol - dyma gylch y gwnaethom ei greu yn gynnar trwy gyfuniad o syniadau a oedd gan y grŵp ambyty goridor o fewn y meddwl ac ambyty frwydrau i gyfathrebu gyda pobl ni'n nabod.
Riot at CSAD (2016)
Reiat yn CSAD (2016)
When Jimmy Cauty's ADP tour came to Cardiff School of Art and Design we welcomed it with a full blown riot performance. My part of the performance was the part of one of three policemen attempting to control the citizens, bystanders and rioters using only banana skins. The stress of the riots soon reverted myself and the other officers into chimp-like beings and in frustration at the lack of order we used the rubble created by the riots to grind the traffic cones (banana peels) into dust.
The following zine I created and distributed at our riot performance since most street voices seem to agree that the housing crisis will be the cause of the next big riots in the Disunited Kingdom.
Pan ddaeth taith ADP Jimmy Cauty i CSAD, gwnaethom ei groesawu gyda pherfformiad o reiat. Roedd fy rhan i o'r perfformiad yn rhan o un o dri o'r heddlu a geisiodd reoli'r dinasyddion a therfysgwyr gan ddefnyddio crwyn banana fel offer i creu drefn. Yn fuan, fe wnaeth straen y terfysgoedd droi fy hun a’r swyddogion eraill yn fodau tebyg i tsimp, ac mewn rhwystredigaeth am diffyg trefn gwnaethom ddefnyddio’r briciau rhydd o'r "reiat" i falu’r conau traffig (peels banana) yn llwch.
O dan yw'r Zine greais i, i ddosbarthi cyn perfformiad ni, gan ei bod yn ymddangos bod y mwyafrif o leisiau yn cytuno mai'r argyfwng tai fydd achos y reiat mawr nesaf yn y Disunited Kingdom.
The following zine I created and distributed at our riot performance since most street voices seem to agree that the housing crisis will be the cause of the next big riots in the Disunited Kingdom.
Pan ddaeth taith ADP Jimmy Cauty i CSAD, gwnaethom ei groesawu gyda pherfformiad o reiat. Roedd fy rhan i o'r perfformiad yn rhan o un o dri o'r heddlu a geisiodd reoli'r dinasyddion a therfysgwyr gan ddefnyddio crwyn banana fel offer i creu drefn. Yn fuan, fe wnaeth straen y terfysgoedd droi fy hun a’r swyddogion eraill yn fodau tebyg i tsimp, ac mewn rhwystredigaeth am diffyg trefn gwnaethom ddefnyddio’r briciau rhydd o'r "reiat" i falu’r conau traffig (peels banana) yn llwch.
O dan yw'r Zine greais i, i ddosbarthi cyn perfformiad ni, gan ei bod yn ymddangos bod y mwyafrif o leisiau yn cytuno mai'r argyfwng tai fydd achos y reiat mawr nesaf yn y Disunited Kingdom.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel (2017)
Y Golau ar Ddiwedd y Twnnel (2017)
The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a children's book written through workshops in Church Hall in Bargoed by a community group. The book subtly deals with the experience of being bipolar and of being a friend/relative or spouse of someone suffering with the disorder. The story focuses on Millie the "life and soul of the party" mole and her friend Mollie during a local bake-off competition.
British Library ISBN978-0-9957827-0-9
British Library ISBN978-0-9957827-0-9
Editorials :
Darluniau :
Illustrations done for Cardiff Newspapers, Cymdeithas y iaith circular magazine (Tshirts for sale on their website), protest signs, and online circulation in response to various events.
Lluniau wedi'u gwneud ar gyfer Papurau Newydd Caerdydd, cylchgrawn cylchol Cymdeithas y iaith, (Crysau ar werth ar wefan nhw) arwyddion protest, a chylchrediad ar-lein mewn ymateb i ddigwyddiadau amrywiol.
Lluniau wedi'u gwneud ar gyfer Papurau Newydd Caerdydd, cylchgrawn cylchol Cymdeithas y iaith, (Crysau ar werth ar wefan nhw) arwyddion protest, a chylchrediad ar-lein mewn ymateb i ddigwyddiadau amrywiol.
Nadroedd yn y Dre 'ma 2022
Yn haf 2022 cynhaliais i ac Anna ap Robert weithdai gyda chriw; Amy, Lyra, Nathan, a Sylvia gyda Theatr Felin Fach i chwarae gyda straeon lleol - hen chwedlau a chwedlau gwerin (llawer o gasgliad o 'Crochan Ceredigion' gan Llinos M Davies ) a chwedlau mwy modern - fe wnaethon ni greu stori a oedd yn ymestyn dros 800 mlynedd - mae ail hanner y stori wedi'i chrynhoi yn y Gylchgrawn 8 tudalen hon. Perfformiwyd y sioe i gynulleidfa fach fel rhan o’r gweithdy diwethaf.
In the summer of 2022 myself and Anna ap Robert hosted workshops with a group, Amy, Lyra, Nathan, a Sylvia with Theatr Felin Fach - playing with local stories - old legends and folk tales (many from the collection Crochan Ceredigion by Llinos M Davies) and more recent tales - we created a story that spanned 800 years - the second half of the story was summarised in this 8 page Zine. We performed the show to a small audience as part of the last workshop.
In the summer of 2022 myself and Anna ap Robert hosted workshops with a group, Amy, Lyra, Nathan, a Sylvia with Theatr Felin Fach - playing with local stories - old legends and folk tales (many from the collection Crochan Ceredigion by Llinos M Davies) and more recent tales - we created a story that spanned 800 years - the second half of the story was summarised in this 8 page Zine. We performed the show to a small audience as part of the last workshop.
A Sense of Society (2014)
These portrait paintings are visually graphic-novel-esque, humorous depictions of myself and friends living self-indulgent lives. What I wanted to show was something that looked glamorous and rock-and-roll at first glance, but maybe got a bit depressing or laughable at closer inspection.
Meat Paintings
During my time at Cardiff School of art and Design I left an acoustic guitar around the studio and corridors for people to play. But I painted the guitar to look like a garish pork chop. I did this so that people would be annoyed at it.
I liked that something that made a nice noise would have to look so crap for no reason. That got me thinking about why raw meat might look repulsive (or at least it does until it's cooked). The answer that I came up with was that meat is flesh that we don't care about. From here I started trying to use meat in my work as blind-spots.
I liked that something that made a nice noise would have to look so crap for no reason. That got me thinking about why raw meat might look repulsive (or at least it does until it's cooked). The answer that I came up with was that meat is flesh that we don't care about. From here I started trying to use meat in my work as blind-spots.
Meat Man
I created the character of Meat Man as a kind of cartoon figure of modern blues. He sings songs of neglected perspectives. His song titles include 'Local Schizophrenic', 'Jailbait Rock', and 'Berlin Wall (it's too late to sober up)'.
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Meat Laptop and Performance video
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