Alison Fisher  I moved to Anglesey with my parents when I was 16 but left again after only a year to study at Walsall School of Art on a foundation course. I chose Stoke-on-Trent Polytechnic to do my degree course where I was taught by John Webber and Derek Emms. After living on Anglesey for 30 years I now live on the Lleyn Peninsula near Pwllheli. Most of my work used to be hand-thrown but now I concentrate on hand modeled animal forms. These animal sculptures I make entirely by hand, combining shapes that I make by rolling and squeezing the clay. I aim for simplicity of form, accentuating certain characteristics and reducing or omitting others whilst trying to capture the essential features of the animal and sometimes a sense of the movement or 'body language'.

Anne Smith  All of Anne’s work is individually designed and hand crafted at her studio using a variety of kiln-forming processes for fused pieces and traditional leading techniques for stained glass work. The individuality of each design, the very nature of glass itself and the kiln processes used ensure that each piece is unique. Fused glass design Anne cuts, layers, casts, fuses and slumps glass to produce a stunning range of unique hand crafted interior accessories, as well as working to commission. Contemporary yet functional, Anne’s work is ideal for the home, as well as the corporate and public, setting. Commissions are always designed with close liaison with the client ensuring a creative, individual solution that is tailored to your specific requirements. Fused glass designs include a range of tableware and accessories, gifts, tiles, one off sculptures, lighting, signage and awards. Stained glass design Anne harnesses the shining and translucent colour of stained glass with the flowing qualities of fused glass to create individual, hand crafted stained glass designs that merge the boundaries of craft with art. Commissions are always designed with close liaison with the client ensuring a creative, individual solution that is tailored to your specific requirements. Anne’s work is ideal for the home, as well as the corporate and public setting, providing unique architectural solutions that enhance the environment. Stained glass designs include panels, screens and architectural stained glass that combine fused glass detail with traditional leading.

Charlotte Bird  Charlotte was born in Bury St Edmunds in 1958.She started photography at the age of seven. After her two children had grown up she attended the local college, obtaining a Dipolma in photography, qualifying with seven distinctions. Enchanted with the style of the mid Victorians, especially fairies and the Pre Raphaelites,she developed a style that was influenced by these. Charlottes awareness that fact and fantasy could co exist became the very heart of her photographic work. Her fairy studies form a mutual and loving game of private dreams carried out among secret gardens, woodlands and other beautiful places. Charlotte also enjoys writing fairy poetry and hopes to publish a book containing the fairy poems and photographs.

Chris Terrell  My inspiration comes from the world around me, people, animals, interactions, relationships, the forms and colours of the natural world and increasingly, the interplay of my own inner experience and the external world.On occasion I run workshops to share ideas and encourage others to discover their own creative potential. I have done a variety of work over the years, from jobs in laboratories, warehouses, and small factories to rearing and training birds of prey, time in the Royal Navy and several journeys and voyages abroad. In 1991, I made a career shift, becoming a tutor with Outward Bound and since 1998 have been working primarily as a freelance trainer/ facilitator on personal and team development courses.I now have a day job in a local secondary school. A lifelong interest in art and creativity has run through all of this and formed a steadily increasing part of my life, work and interests.

Claire Williams  I am a sculptor based in the beautiful Vale of Conwy in North Wales. All of my work is lovingly handmade, each piece being unique. I do, however, try and make my work affordable to as wide a range of people as possible. Please check back regularly, as I'm adding new pieces all the time. Can't find the sculpture you're looking for? I am available on commission. Of late I have been working on a much smaller scale because I want to explore tiny details, and see how small I can feasibly go with the clay, however, no matter how small my work gets I still want to maintain the principles of good design, and so I like to think of my smaller work as micro-sculptures. Much of my work is inspired by the beautiful scenary of North Wales, and have been making hills, mountains and waves inspired by the view from my house.

Clare Collinson  Clare works predominantly in silver using processes such as reticulation to texture and form each piece of jewellery. Her preferred finish is oxidised silver which is lightly polished to create an aged appearance. Having undertaken no formal training, Clare's work holds a certain naivety which adds to its appeal. By combining techniques she has learnt and using simple designs, Clare has created a wearable range of hand crafted, affordable, contemporary jewellery.

Don Bennett  Don Bennett has been producing ceramic figurines since 1977. He is a holder of B.A. Ceramics, awarded at Wolverhampton College of Art in 1967. Every item produced is entirely hand made. The figurines are made from the finest stoneware clay and high fired to last forever. The colours are made of clay and fired in to give a subtle and natural quality.

Eileen Harrisson  Concentrating on Painting, Etching and History of Art at university, I also studied these last two subjects in Italy, with the addition of Lithography and Mosaic. Partly owing to the onset of muscle problems some years ago, I began experimenting with embroidery in 1993, finding the varied nature of textile art invaluable for my collection. Exhibitions include; Herbert Art Gallery and Museum,Coventry;Museum of London;Rugby Art Gallery and Museum;The Mall Galleries, London. In 2007 at Bilston Craft Gallery exhibited piece "Rain on the Water" received Embroiderers Guild Commended Award. Through a fusion of fabric, paint and stitch and employing both free machine embroidery and hand stitching techniques, I seek to arrive at the essence of a scene.

Elfyd Roberts  Elfyd lives in Llwyngwril, Gwynedd. He taught metalwork for many years. Is now semi-retired and is developing his own work. Commissions welcome for furniture.

Frank Bower  Born in 1941 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Studied Art and Design at Huddersfield School of Art. Taught in Yorkshire and Cheshire for 31 years, then retired in 1994. Took up pottery/ceramics as a hobby before moving to Old Colwyn in 1996, and follwed typical craft fair route. "I believe the clay process gives me the opportunity to express ideas about the relationship between beauty and function in a multitude of new and distinctive ways. It is the variety and range of forms and technical approaches within the craft which keeps me continually interested, surprised and dissatisfied. I must keep working and striving to do better." "I am a member of the Gwynedd and Clwyd Association of Craft Workers. I exhibited at teh Eisteddfod in 2001 and shared a joint exhibition in 2002 at Penrhyn Castle near Bangor.

Gareth Wyn Jones  Gwneuthurwr Printiadau yw Gareth Wyn Jones sy’n byw yn Gwanas Fawr ger Dolgellau. Cafodd ei eni ym Mangor yn 1952 yn yr hen Sir Gaernarfon, a Cymraeg yw ei iaith gyntaf. Mae Gareth yn ariannu ei waith celf drwy waith ymchwil cymdeithasol a rhedeg gweithdai argraffu. Mae esiamplau o waith Gareth mewn casgliadau cyhoeddus a preifat yng Nghymru, Yr Alban, Lloegr, Ffrainc, India’r Gorllewin, yr Unol Daleithiau, Canada a Chiwba. Mae ei waith wedi ei arddangos yng Nghymru, Yr Alban, Lloegr ac Ynysoedd y Caribî. Yn ei yrfa cynnar cafodd hyfforddiant fel Cynllunydd Graffig ac mi gafodd waith fel cynllunydd gyda Prifysgol Cymru. Yn 1983 cafodd hyfforddiant mewn gwaith cymdeithasol ac roedd yn dal i gynhyrchu celf drwy Weithdy Argraffu Caerdydd o dan ambarel Cymdeithas Arlunwyr a Dylunwyr yng Nghymru. O fewn deng mlynedd symudodd i Jamaica a gweithio fel darlithydd, lle roedd yn cynllunio a darparu cyrsiau ar waith sgrîn-sidan a ffotograffiaeth yng Ngholeg Celf Gweledol a Perfformiadol Edna Manley yn Kingston. Wedi dychwelyd i Gymru yn 1996 mi drefnodd a rhedeg sesiynau celf, wedi ei arrianu gan adran cymdeithasol Caerdydd, i ddarparu ac i gynnal gweithdai celf ar gyfer pobl ag anabledd. Fe symudodd i Gaeredin yn 1997 i greu gwaith Albanaidd. Roedd y gwaith yma yn cynnwys tirluniau, pensaernïaeth, bywyd llonydd a portreadau. Roedd hefyd yn yn cynnwys nifer o ffurfiau printiedig, gwaith sgrîn-sidan, prints-mono, printiau bloc côlag a ffotograffiaeth du a gwyn. Symudodd Gareth i Gwanas Fawr ger Dolgellau yn 2002, a cofrestru fel ‘Artist Mewn Ysgolion’ gyda Cyngor Sir Gwynedd, mae yn rhedeg gweithdai argraffu mewn ysgolion ac o’i stiwdio yn Gwanas Fawr. Mae ei brintiadau presennol yn canolbwyntio ar yr ardal lle mae yn byw, sydd yn cynnwys tirluniau, llystyfiant, anifeiliaid, creiriau diwydiannol a portreadau.

Graham Brace  I was born in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, in 1949. I studied Graphic Design and Advertising Art at Cardiff College of Art from 1966 to 1969 after which I worked in the advertising and design industry in London. On returning to Pembrokeshire in 1976 I established a graphic design business based in Haverfordwest, which in 1988 became Brace Harvatt Associates in partnership with CIT Brace Harvatt Creative Print in Haverfordwest. I began drawing and painting seriously in January 2000 after 25 years of good intentions coming to nought. Since then I have worked prolifically in my spare time. In August 2001 I took a very significant step and reduced my working hours at CIT Brace Harvatt by 50% to allow me more time to develop my art.

Gwili Pottery  Gwili has been creating domestic pottery for over 25 years, and has a wide variety of different shapes in around 30 designs. From vases and plates to jugs and lamp bases, each piece has the unique feel of an artwork because everything is hand-made. Each range is typified by strong, individual designs and painted in colours that reflect an artistic tradition that attracts both collectors and domestic users alike. From daffodils and hearts to abstract shapes and seashells, Gwili has something unique and affordable for everyone. These pieces are modern-day classics. Gwili caters for discerning buyers who have discovered the joy of knowing that the range of earthenware pieces they chose will not be identical to anyone else ’s although each piece conforms to the spirit of the design.

Jay Haddow  I did not take up art until I moved to Wales in 1985 following early retirement. I am a member of the Aberdyfi and Meirionnydd Art Societies. I have been on various courses run by Gwylwym Pritchard and Howard Coles at Tan y Bwlch and with David Tress in Pembrokeshire and Shropshire. The light and landscape of North Wales gives me constant pleasure and inspiration. I have shown in both the Aberdyfi and Meironnydd Artists Exhibitions and also in the following Open Competitions:- Wrexham - (1st prize for Amateur Painter) Bangor, The Royal Cambrian Academy,MOMA - Y Tabernacle, Dylan Thomas Centre - Swansea, Oriel Davies - Newtown, Tregarron, Aberystwyth School of Lifelong Learning (1st Prize Art), Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddu, Welsh Artist of the Year - Cardiff. I have also exhibited in Oriel Llanfrothen, Llwyngwril, Tregarren and Snowden Mill.

Jean Mintoft  I was brought up in Hull, East Yorkshire, and studied Art to Advanced Level. After leaving school however, I trained to be a teacher, and Art was never one of the subjects I taught. For a short time, whilst still at university, I attended evening classes at Birmingham College of Art. During that period, I became a Christian, and my Christian faith has been the major motivating factor in my life ever since. I am married to Brian and have 3 grown-up children & 2 young grandsons. As a toddler (so I’ve been told!), I adorned a newly decorated wall with scribbles, and since then I have always enjoyed drawing and painting for relaxation, but it never played a prominent part in my life. In 1997-8, Brian and I spent several months in New Zealand, where the spectacular scenery really inspired me to paint. In early 1999, we “retired” to a beautiful area on the west coast of Wales where I found the opportunity to develop my painting more seriously. I am now a member of a couple of local Art Societies (I am a founder member of the Tywyn Art Group) and have successfully completed a painting course with the Open College of the Arts. In the last two or three of years, as well as getting out and about painting on location, I have been involved in local craft fairs and given demonstrations of art and craft work at Craft Days at the Baptist Church in Tywyn.

Jean Napier  I am a Professional Photographer, Qualified Mountain Leader and Training Consultant with a wide variety of clients. My work includes teaching photography, outdoor skills training, leading guided walks and designing and delivering personal and professional development training. I live in the Snowdonia National Park where the magnificent landscape, industrial heritage and wealth of ancient history provide inspiration and source material for my work.

John Plumb/Stanway Woodcraft  Stanway Woodcraft was established by John Plumb in 1999 in the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanway. The business operated from The Old Sawmill, a magnificent old stone mill containing a huge iron waterwheel. Working mainly with reclaimed oak and pine, John makes affordable contemporary chunky furniture mainly to order. In 2001, John and partner Angela moved their home and businesses to Mid-Wales.

Karen Williams  Movement has always been a strong element within my jewellery. This can be a subtle swinging detail within a pendant or wearable windmills that whirl when you blow. I also enjoy the exploration of this element within more experimental pieces which emphasise the body’s natural rhythm. I delight in experimenting with the surface of the metals, contrasting fine textures with highly polished areas. Similarly, the colour combination of gold and silver is also a feature of my jewellery. The way I work the metal and the construction of the piece is important to me and I try to allow designs to reflect the processes which have created them. As well as developing ranges of earstuds, pendants and brooches, I work to commission in precious metals. I have had the honour of designing and producing the crown for the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru Môn 1999 as well as a number of crowns for the local Anglesey Eisteddfod. I have also made Cerdd Dant trophies and a presidential badge of honour. I equally enjoy working alongside a client to produce a piece which will be unique to them. This exciting process can evolve from the clients own ideas or through developing designs to fulfil their criteria. Such individual commissions have ranged from a silver torque to gold wedding rings and tiaras.

Kate Hamilton-Hunter  Kate has been designing in metal since studying for a HNC in Textiles in 1997/9. With a background in dressmaking and textiles, her designs include patching and piecing, stitching and joining pieces of metal with wire. The development of her metal designs was a natural step from textiles and embroidery. In 2004, Kate was joined by two metal designers with BA(hons) degrees in metalwork and 3D design. Their contribution to the business has been fantastic, as they bring different experiences and influences to the designs and metal techniques used on our new and varied product range. Some of Kate's designs have evolved from an inspirational trip to Zimbabwe in 1997, where craftspeople recycle anything and everything to make a living. Recycling has been important in the ethos and development of Kate’s work ever since, with only thick sheet aluminium being bought in new, and Kate’s working on that one!

Kathy Iffla  I specialise in sculpture. My main inspiration is the spirit I observe within human form and movement, capturing the deeper feelings they portray. The work originates from sketches taken from life. The sculpture is built originally over a frame of wood and paper, covered and carved in clay, fired, and subsequently cast in bronze.

Linda Caswell  My porcelain agateware is a contemporary use of a traditional technique. The colours are in the clay itself, and not a surface decoration. Instead of mixing clays of differing colours, I work in porcelain alone: colouring some and then mixing the colours to create my patterns. I enjoy this combination of part control and part happenstance. I decide the colours, the quantity of colour, and create the patterning, but then a random element takes over - beyond my control. The work is made in a series, but no two pieces will be identical. Only the rims are glazed. Once-fired in an electric kiln.

Lorraine Bewsey  Lorraine Bewsey studied art at Swansea Institute and worked as an illustrtator and tutor, both self-employed and at Swansea College. She is now concentrating on her own work as an artist, producing representational work of a very high standard.

Maria Wagland  I have been woodturning since 1998 and my main interest is in the creation of unusual and artistic pieces. I enjoy all aspects of woodworking and am employed locally as a carpenter. I take every care to achieve the best finish on all my pieces, be they pieces intended for gallery exhibition or pieces of a functional nature. My inspiration comes from the beauty of individual pieces of wood themselves and from events affecting my life. I am mainly self-taught with the vast majority of my knowledge acquired from books and videos and by trial and error.

Marion Telford L.S.I.A. Dip.A.D.  Marion Telford was born on the Cumbrian coast and now lives and paints in North Wales. She attended East Croydon School of Art and Chelsea School of Art followed by a year at the British School in Rome. She was a lecturer in Textile Design at Eastbourne School of Art, East Sussex and Fine Art tutor at Whitstone Community School, Somerset, for twenty years. Her work has been exhibited at numerous galleries throughout England and Wales and is currently being shown at Oriel Llwyngwril, Gwynedd. She is a member of Art North Wales with whom she is exhibiting work as part of the "Welsh Light" touring exhibition throughout Wales and England. Marion's work is mainly landscape based for which she prefers to work directly on site producing drawings on paper or finished paintings on canvas or board. She works in watercolour, acrylic and oils.

Mihangel Arfor Jones  Mihangel Arfor Jones was born of Welsh parents in 1940,spending the early years of his life on a mountain farm on the Cardigan/Montgomershire borders. The family later moved to England where he obtained a classical education in art at Twickenham College of Art. From 1961-1982 he worked as an illustrator and painter.His national and international freelance illustration practice covered the areas of poster,packaging,advertising, comic, book, childrens book and magazine ilustration. At the same time his painting career involved mainly portrait painting and both landscape and industrial commissions. He began his involvement with art education to become a Principal Lecturer and Head of an Honours Degree Course at the Kent Institute of Art and Design. In the nineties he left education in favour of further developing his own artwork full time from his studio in Y Friog, Meirionydd. During this time Mihangel suffered a long illness from which he recovered two years ago. During his incapacity he continued to develop his work. His focus is both subjective and conceptual and includes drawings, paintings and ceramic sculpture. His one man exhibitions include "Some Thoughts, Some Feelings" at Oriel Y Ddraig, Balaenau Ffestiniog and "Jones ap Jones" at the Tabernacle Gallery in Machynlleth. He is a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy and has exhibitied several times at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, appearing in a S4C television programme. In recent years he has won first prize and been highly commended in the "Welsh Open" at the Tabernacle Gallery. He has recently had a one man exhibition "O Five" at the Plase in Bala which featured work based on the human form. From November 06 to March 07 he exhibited a major exhibition at the Tabernacle MOMA Wales in a group entitled "Out of the Top Drawer". During this time he also exhibited at the same gallery in the Winners Exhibition. His work was selcted for the biennial Wales Portrait Award of 06, a touring exhibition which ran from March 06 to June 07.

Phil Hayes  I made my first pots at school at the age of 14 and I still possess some of these weighty objects! After a long absence I came back to pottery at art school at 21, there I met potters who earned a living from working with clay and I set my mind to try to do this myself. After another 3 years at Stoke Poly I set up my first workshop on Anglesey and worked there until 2 years ago when I moved to Pwllheli. I have now been a full time potter for 27 years and whilst I have learned a lot in that time, pottery continues to be a learning experience. Over this time I have worked on thrown and hand modeled ceramics but I now work exclusively on the latter making Raku fired humorous animal sculptures.

Toby Messer  For the last three years I have been a full time artist, exhibiting and selling around the Richmound area. I gain inspiration from the wildness and mysticism of Richmond Park, the multi-coloured world of exotic fish and believe it or not, the architecture of the M4 corridor. Also, in a bid to see what life is like from the other side of the easel, I am an active life model. I have been working at the ICA in London, from front of house, tending installations, the cinemas and writing for the Publicity Department. I have been a film extrea in Closer, Vera Drake, Willy Wonka and The Da Vinci Code amongst others. Over the last 20 years I have worked as an advertising writer on a wide variety of media:TV Commercials,posters, press and radio, picking up awards for Carlsberg, Princes fruit drinks and Bristol Myers. Latterly, I have worked in a wide variety of Sales Promotion agencies in London, as a freelance, working at agencies such as Rapier, EHS Brann, Joshua, DP&A,WWAV,Carlson;various strands of Saatchi & Saatchi and other agencies across the board. I have written for charitable organisations eg Unicef, Dr Barnardos Childrens Homes and Save the Children. I am attempting to utilise my painting and communication skills by teaching special needs.

Valerie Land  In her mid-forties Valerie decided to escape from her school-teaching career and combine her first loves; walking and painting. The mountains and seashores of Wales beckoned her away from the flat landscape of East Anglia and her youth. Exploring light, texture and colour, Valerie's detailed painting style is a restful homage to a beautiful country.

Veronica Calarco  Veronica Calarco was born in a small town in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia (south east) and has fulfilled her aim of living in every part of Australia, ending up in the Kimberley in north Western Australia, living in Halls Creek, 1300km from Darwin – a town of 1200 people (200 non-Aboriginal) – which is nicknamed Hells Crack. She completed a degree in printmaking and a postgraduate in weaving at the Australian National University in the mid ‘90’s and has exhibited in Australia, France, Japan, China, Korea and Turkey. In 2003 Veronica first came to Wales and fell in love with the Gwynedd area – since then she has been travelling back and forth exploring the environment and attempting to learn the Welsh language (her Welsh teacher in Australia comes from Denbigh and despairs of her ever getting rid of her Australian accent). The Kimberley in north Western Australia is seen as the last frontier – it was the last part of Australia to be colonised and there are still Aboriginals living who didn’t meet a white person until they were teenagers. The environment is harsh with two seasons – the wet (tropical storms and temperatures around 40-50 degrees Celsius) and the dry (no clouds for six months and temperatures around 20-30 degrees) The land is heavily contested by Aboriginal land rights, station owners and mining companies meaning most of the area is closed – being mined or having cattle destroying it, with stations now being brought by international companies. Due to the use of the land, the harsh climate, the distress of the traditional landowners (from being colonised and losing their language and culture), and its remoteness, the Kimberley is a difficult environment to live in. The images represent Veronica’s attempts to come to grips with the use of the environment and her heritage of coming from both the colonised and the coloniser. Veronica is currently completing an artist in residence at the Regional Print Centre at Yale College in Wrexham. The work in this exhibition has been produced during this period.

Wendy Murphy  Wendy Murphy was born at Farnborough in Kent in 1956 where she spent her childhood and adult life. In her late 20's she had a complete career change from working as a typesetter in London and after studying for five years she obtained a Diploma with Distinction in Graphic Design from Canterbury College of Art and a BA(Hons)in Illustration from Brighton Polytechnic. In 1990 she moved to Gwynedd, Wales, where she works as a professional painter and lectures in Fine Art and Life Drawing at Coleg Meirion-Dwfor. She has won many prestigious awards including having been twice first prize British National winner in the John Laing Landscape paint competion and twice 1st prize winner in the Welsh Open, Tabernacle, Museum of Modern Art competition. In 2004 she won 1st prize in "The Spirit of Llyn" art competition and has appeared on television in a programme featuring the National Eisteddfod of Wales. She exhibits her work throughout the UK including London and Cardiff. She says of her work :- "I gain inspiration from direct observation of the landscape, people that I know, things from my everyday life and re-create them - so that each painting becomes a piece of theatre - a subjective dramatisation of the familiar."