Gruffudd Fine Arts

Gruffudd is a contemporary scion of the ancient Welsh family amongst whose members was the first king of north Wales, Gruffudd ap Cynon.

Of course, our British roots go back far farther than that; we were largely untroubled by the expensive folly of Vortigern and, before that, the Romans left us more-or-less alone, even if we weren't entirely happy with being swamped, invaded and culturally defiled.

We are, therefore, Brythonic Kelts - although the Greek word sits as ill on our tribal pride as does the Roman dragon on the Welsh national flag.  In our own tongue, we are Cymric - comrades - although obviously the word Cymric means nothing outside Wales or, at most, the other Brythonic "P" Celtic speaking lands of the Kernow, the Breizh and, possibly, Patagonia, and so we must communicate in more familiar language.

For me, art is a big part of that language.  It is a truism that a picture paints a thousand words, but not only that, it also conveys emotions and feelings and so much more that mere words cannot hope to carry.  Naturally, too, there are things that a picture struggles to say, and thus comes sculpture, music and, yes, writing into the fray, for they all have their strengths over the other forms.

Given, too, that so strong is my sense of national identity and pride, it is obviously natural that I should use the skills and talents bestowed upon me to educate and inform about a concept which, in this globalised world, is in serious danger of being snuffed out.  Believe me, if it does go the way the big boys of the International Community seem to wish it to go, then we will have lost something fundamentally vital, and lost it forever - our independent minds, something far more valuable than any pot of money for which we may be tempted to sell our souls.  For without our roots, which keep us firm to reality and able to withstand the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune", we become malleable, docile, lost.

Hence my muse, from whom my work is channelled through me onto whatever medium is appropriate, lives amongst the Cymric Gods and heroes of old, from Bran Fendigeid to Ceridwen, from Erce to Lludd.

I hope you enjoy your visit, and take inspiration from it.