Comment | Read Comments (2)

What do you like most about Monmouthshire?

I don't just like Monmouthshire, I love it! It's where I grew up. I moved away for a time to live in London, but after a few years I decided I missed home' too much and came back. I find the beautiful surroundings such an inspiration and it does influence my artwork. My last exhibition, entitled Emotional Landscapes, was described by many as having a calmness, which I believe was a result of my surroundings and my reaction to it.

Where would you recommend for an unforgettable dining experience in the county?

When friends come to visit I like to take them to the Malt House tapas restaurant in St Mary's Street, Monmouth. The people that work there are mainly Spanish and they have a very welcoming manner about them. The décor is smart but intimate and the food is delicious! Of course because it is tapas you can order several and sample a selection.

What is your favourite book and why?

I recently bought a book called Anonymous' for a friend's birthday. It is a fascinating assortment of photographs which the author has collected over many years from car boot and second hand stores. The people and the places in the photos are unknown, but each image is compelling and intriguing and it makes you wonder what the story is behind the photo. This book appeals to me because it's creative. My friend liked it also.

Who would be your ideal companion on a trip around Monmouthshire?

My Springier Spaniel dog Sam. Sadly, he died a few years ago. There are some lovely walks around Monmouthshire. I remember many a good walk across fields and streams and along the river. If you are lucky you can find some field mushrooms to have with your eggs and bacon!

Favourite town in Monmouthshire and why?

Abergavenny or Monmouth? Well, I live in a small village which lies central to these two towns. I like both of these places equally although they are both different. I like the mountains overlooking Abergavenny which feature in several of my paintings. The town houses in Monmouth are quaint and hold a lot of history.

Favourite Monmouthshire landmark or attraction which is a must' to see?

For me, Raglan Castle is one place that I can visit time and again. I used to visit it as a child with my family. It holds some fond memories of lovely days out. As a child I used to imagine that I was a princess living in one of the towers. As an adult I have pitched up my easel and canvas on several occasions and happily painted scenes of the castle and its magnificence.

If there is one thing missing from the county, what would it be?

As we all know Wales does seem to have more than its fair share of rain and Monmouthshire is no exception to this! On those cold, grey days it would be great to have a decent cinema to retreat to. Saying that, Monmouth it's self does have a very old, Victorian cinema which I think is a very unique and should definitely stay.

What annual event in the county is a must?

The Raglan Music Festival has been running for a few years now and seems to be going from strength to strength. It's great to see local talent getting together and sharing with the wider community. I particularly like it because it is an opportunity for all of the family to join in. In fact they encourage people to bring along their instruments for an impromptu session. It happens every year and I think you can look it up on the internet.

10:54am Wednesday 10th October 2007

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login