WINNER - Best Arts on Anglesey Award

The Anglesey Tourism Awards is organised by the Anglesey Tourism Association Ltd (ATA). This high profile and glittering annual ceremony celebrates success, exemplifies good practice and promotes all that is best in tourism in the Region, and was attended by 220 guests from the tourism industry and officials across the Island and North Wales.

Me & TV presenter Nia Parry, photographed by Carol

Jane Blakey, chair of the ATA said “Tonight’s winners have shown that the tourism industry on the Island is of an exceptionally high standard and that we have many outstanding businesses offering a superb visitor experience. They should be very proud of their achievements as it is their hard work and continued development which helps maintain Anglesey’s reputation as a top holiday destination"

This is the first time I've entered the Arts and Crafts category of the Anglesey Tourism Awards and I had no idea really what to expect from it all. I was informed a few weeks back that I'd been short-listed from the nominations for this Award and would I be interested in attending the Gala dinner at "The Pavilion" at the Royal Anglesey Showground at Mona. I was then told it was a black tie event, which deflated me somewhat as I just don't do that sort of fashion etiquette, it goes against my artist, free thinking, non conformist nature and it really stressed me out ! I was told a suit would be fine, which I could deal with, I remember having one for my wedding in 2005 :-)

Jane Blakey (R) ATA Chair, giving introduction at the ATA Awards

Anyway, last night was suddenly upon me before I knew it, and Carol had ironed my white collared shirts for me, as I was working in the gallery till 6.00pm and the event started at 7.00pm. I raced home, put my suit trousers on and they didn't fit ! Amazingly, in 7 years, I'd put weight on ! Now definitely stressing, I decide I have to wear the only black trousers without combat pockets, my Levi black denims! No worries, I'm an artist so I can be renegade and wear them instead. I tried all three shirts and the 16.5"collars would no longer fit around my neck !!! Not only stressed that I now only had a suit jacket left as any form of formality (and a black tie) I was equally concerned that I need to cut back on even more G&T and maybe do even more mountain walking to lose weight ! The jacket fitted perfectly, so white cotton patch shirt, nice black tie, black denims and polished black boots and I was at least comfortable - didn't look like a silly penguin - and was assured in my non conformity :-) I'd seen the David Bailey film the night before and if he could non conform in Vogue company then I could non conform in Anglesonian company :-) My wife on the other hand had gone for an Indian style outfit which looked absolutely stunning, cultural, smart, colourful, and eye catching, not a ball gown but equally beautiful. I was mega proud of her.

My plaque, which will soon be affixed to the gallery wall :-)

We arrived at the venue which was bustling with people flash-lit in manoeuvring car headlights and a few who had unwisely attempted to park on grass like guests did at the infamous Cerys Matthews concert here, when loads of people got stranded in thick mud and couldn't get home. Inside the barn (which is what it was/is, there had been a transformation. Carpets laid, curtains arranged, stage lights, powerful ceiling heating, a bar, display stands, beautifully arranged tables and a Champagne drinks reception, the place was unrecognisable! I couldn't believe the last time I'd been here it was an indoor car boot sale! And amongst this inviting interior, hundreds of beautifully dressed gorgeous ladies and Cummerbunded gents with dickie bows, though thankfully plenty of other suit wearing and even non suit wearing renegades like me. Funnily enough no one seemed to notice or care and after a beer and a chat with several friends we found there straight away, I was happy as Larry (Larry was smoking a spliff - not really)

An iPhone snap of the winners group by Carol whilst waiting for Eifion to do the proper shot!

We were called to the tables and we were thankful sat with a really bunch of guys from Ye Olde Bulls Head in Beaumaris, already past winners of these Awards and who made us feel welcome. Had a really good chat with co owner of the Bull, and highly experienced top chef Keith Rothwell (and his lovely wife) about how much work had been done to the place over 25 years to turn it into the excellent establishment it has now become. We also got chatting to the extremely talented, TV featured young chef, Hefin Roberts, who is now responsible for the contemporary approach the kitchen now adopts, and his girlfriend Jen (House Manager at Ye Olde Bulls Head) were just a brilliant laugh, along with Carol's fitness instructor friend Lesley Wills, so Carol and I both felt relaxed and happy. In such esteemed company I didn't dare comment on the series of dishes laid before us, in case I said they were good when they weren't, or bad if they were good. I just mmmmmm'd in accord ! :-)

Top chef, Hefin Roberts, and girlfriend, Ye Olde Bulls Head House Manager,  Jen

Then came the Awards themselves, presented by the well know Welsh TV presenter, Nia Parry - witty, fast, beautiful, professional and engaging, she really had people laughing with all her ad-libbing.

I was suddenly tense, I had sort of forgotten the whole purpose of the evening (not helped by 3 double gins!) but my category was announced before I knew it !

"Best Arts and Crafts of the Year"

"Anglesey’s historical, cultural and natural heritage continues to this day in the produce of traditional hand-crafted products and this Award recognises the importance art and craft plays in providing the visitor with a true sense of place"

I was up against another popular (painting) gallery and as Beaumaris businesses seemed to be winning everything to that point, I feared the worst. The announcer unwrapped the foil envelope and said "And the winner is - Glyn Davies" when everyone started clapping, calling and Carol screaming something very excitedly ! It was a bit of a blur really, I grabbed my beautiful wife by the hand as I wanted her there with me, and headed for the stage where I got to kiss beautiful Nia before having the official portrait taken by a very complimentary and friendly photographer Eifion Williams.

iPhone snap by a top chef :-))

After that, I was just extremely happy and relaxed, though event organiser Pip did tell me off for wearing black denim at some point, (I think she was smiling!) but her colleague Jane Blakey, chair of the ATA had already told me how smart I looked, so I think we'll call it quits, and I remained true to myself :-) (though the snap above AFTER dancing, would suggest otherwise !!)

Personally, I would like to thank my wife, for looking beautiful and for her support; Ye Olde Bulls Head of Beaumaris, for being such nice company; TV Presenter Nia Parry for kissing me, twice; The lovely and hard working organisers Jane, Pip and the rest of the ATA for organising the event; All the judges and presenters who gave their time to attend the event; The very nice barman who gave me a cheap double Gin because I'd won and of course all the nice people I met there who showed support and offered congratulations on my win. Congratulations also to the Janet Bell Gallery who received Silver in our category.


For further information please contact Pip Cockeram on 01248 811195 or at pip@pipcockeram.co.uk
http://angleseytourismawards.co.uk/awards/

Lost in Space

Seems I have been dropped back into that "It's your photo day, you shall have grey" scenario! My photo-days in last few weeks have generally been devoid of any weather other than high wind, drizzle and greyness. Monday was promised broken cloud and sunshine, improving throughout the afternoon with more and more sunshine towards evening. Well no one told the weather makers near Beddgelert, where the Nantlle Ridge, Mynydd Mawr and Moel Hebog seemed to grip to the fast flowing low cloud base like Fred Astaire to a Top Hat.

"My Geometry's Foggy" Moel Hebog © Glyn Davies 2012 - Prints from HERE

The going was very wet underneath, with thick bog and waterlogged grass and the summit of Moel Hebog where I was headed only made very brief appearances. From the North Ridge I followed the very steep hillside alongside a miraculous wall which defied gravity and continued right up and over the summit to drop away to the South West on the far side. To be honest it was welcome shelter from the bitter hill fog which nearer the top would otherwise have ripped through me. As usual, I was alone on the mountain and it was slightly intimidating ascending this vast open mountainside where visibility was down to a few meters, on a hill I'd never climbed before, like an ascent to heaven which would open above me at any minute.

"Fogpath Footpath" Moel Hebog © Glyn Davies 2012 - Prints from HERE

It seems I wasn't going to Heaven after all as the cloud base stayed low and I finally summited in a fast flowing motorway of 50mph cloud. I sheltered behind a trig point and it was so cold I had to eat my sandwiches wearing gloves. The coffee was gorgeous and warm and restored some sanity to this cold hilltop. Almost without me noticing, the sky behind the wall had opened, and this incredible view of sunlit hills opened up over South East Snowdonia, but in the fast hill fog, it was gone before I could even get the camera out. I was becoming more comfortable in this isolated and surreal weather, and mounted the camera to the tripod ready for the next 'appearance' but there was none. Behind me a different view opened up for a couple of minutes with layers of cloud racing under banks of higher cloud, and intense sunlight in one tiny patch over Cardigan Bay on the horizon. It was all rather beautiful as well as cold and surreal, but it would have made a much better video than a still. As a still, the fast moving vapour just appears as white, but on HD video, you would discern the speed, the subtlety of fast change and the noise of the won through the wall behind me.

"Volcanic Burn" Llyn Peninsula © Glyn Davies 2012 - Prints from HERE

Nevertheless, two scenes presented themselves which summed up the character and ambience of what I was experiencing, and on the way off the mountain, back at the col, very low, late afternoon sunshine made an intense effort to break through the cloud over the Llyn Peninsula and I managed a few frames on the telephoto in the five minutes before that too disappeared behind an enormous new weather-front. I'd spent way too much time on the col, hoping the light would become even more spectacular, but it didn't, so I was forced to make a hasty descent in half light back through down the lower slopes through thick bog to the van, waiting for me next to a gurgling brook, in a dark and still deserted valley.

All words and images are strictly copyright © Glyn Davies 2011 - All rights reserved
Glyn's landscapes are all available as 200 year archival prints on his website at www.glyndavies.com

Well that's it, first A1 edition to sell out, strange feeling!

Yesterday, a lady came to my gallery and became transfixed by one of my Limited Editions of 3. It was the last in the set, No.3 of 3. Even though she looked at the rest of the images and also loved another image shot at the same location, she couldn't take her eyes off "Sheep in Welsh Tuscany".

"Sheep in Welsh Tuscany" Dolbenmaen © Glyn Davies 2011

"Featureless mountain-tops led down to isolated 'findings' before shrubs, trees and man-made forms started dominating the landscape once more. A mist had built in the late afternoon and was backlit by warm evening sunshine. The rows of tall trees arranged across the rolling hillsides made the landscape look more Tuscan than Welsh !"

As often happens, the lady left without making a purchase but promised to come back in on Saturday. These days I rarely believe return visits will happen but today, less than 24 hours later she came back in with her friend for another look. Within 10 minutes Miss Williams was making the purchase for rare framed print and both she and I were delighted.

It's a strange feeling though. This is the first time that I have sold out of an edition completely (partly because my earlier A1 editions were 20 and 25 editions which need to be displayed so much longer on gallery walls) but I suddenly thought "That's it, I will never ever see that image of mine at that lovely A1 size again, unless I visit the houses of my own customers!" It gives me an idea what a painter faces, when a one-off original leaves the studio. It feels precious, something is a part of you, and that even as the creator, you won't get to see it again. I know I will get used to this feeling but that's the first time it's happened. The first print sold to a lady in Chester, the second print to a lady in Italy.

Do I still believe in doing such rare editions therefore ? Definitely, I like rarity and preciousness. The disadvantage is that I can't charge the prices that London or city galleries charge to make up for this rarity, but I really dislike "limited" editions, that in their hundreds are simply not "limited" at all. I know that in many international galleries editions of 10 are seen as a joke, let alone 50 or 100 or more, so I am happy to offer my gallery visitors something really beautiful and rare, and at just a tenth of the London prices some of my colleagues are charging for their editions which are reaching £16-20K.

Miss Williams is happy, and my gallery is ticking along and surviving this global economic disaster, so all in all, I feel good today.

All words and images are strictly copyright © Glyn Davies 2011 - All rights reserved
Glyn's landscapes are all available as 200 year archival prints on his website at www.glyndavies.com

A must watch video for all artists & togs

I rarely post video links on my blog, but I was shared this really superb video today that REALLY has relevance to ALL photographers (actually, to ALL OF US, no matter what job we do). I just had to share this one.

The first 1.35 mins are actually relevant, in a joky way, but this vid really kicks off at around 1min 35sec, beautifully shot but very true sentiments that will resonate with many, newbie or established, young or older, and regardless of genre (generally)

If it moved you, let me know using the comments form. Enjoy.