Exhibition of Contemporary Welsh Art is the name of an art event happening at the London Welsh Centre here in London on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th February, it is something that has happened at the Centre as part of Wales Week London for a number of years now. There is an opening night on Friday 18th (6 until 8pm, you need to RSVP via e.mail to nicola @ londonwelsh.org). We’re told it will be an exhibition of contemporary art featuring artists who are based in (or originate from) Wales and that “If you’re interested in contemporary Welsh art this exhibition is a superb opportunity for you to meet the artists, view and purchase some of their work”. It kind of looks a little more like an art fair to us, although the room will be hung as a formal exhibition with work on sale from all the participating artists (wh owill be there to talk to) including Katherine Jones, Jonathan Retallick, Francine Davies, Ray Burnell, Sarah Jane Brown , Scream Print Design, Eloise Govier, Needle Rock, Lee John Phillips, Ceini Spiller, John Stout, John Edward Davies, Sean Worrall and we’re told quite a few more.

We’re particularly looking forward to seeing some of Eloise Govier‘s work in the flesh, her paint does look good enough to eat, she rather stood our during Wales Week London last year – A solo exhibition ‘Ar Lan y Môr’ featuring paintings by Welsh artist Eloise Govier as part of Wales Week London…  – and yeah, that was my name that went past just then. Before I got lost in the backstreets of East London I grew up on Anglesey, and made my first artistic moves in Bangor, rather pleased to have work at Storiel Gallery in Bangor at the moment – 40(+1) Celf Sylfaen Bangor Art Foundation at Storiel Gallery and Pontio, Bangor, North Wales, a celebration of something rather special… – I’m slowly finding my way back to where I came from.

“The London Welsh Centre has been situated on Grays Inn Road since 1937. Our mission is to promote Welsh culture and its beautiful language. We host community activities and events that champion Welsh talent”. So they say, you do need ot book a time slot unless the Covid rules are al dropped now, there is a good bar in the place (wonder if they sell Wrexham Larger? The drink of my teenage years) and there is no Rugby this weekend so you should be able to get to the bar.    

The event is part of Wales Week London – “Wales Week London is the annual showcase of activities and events that celebrate and promote everything that is great about Wales.”. There are a number of art events featuring in the week including that really must see Kevin Sinnott exhbition at East London’s Flowers Gallery that we already featured on these pages – Kevin Sinnott’s big big paintings at Flowers Gallery. Wow! Wasn’t expecting that…

We;re not sure what we’re going to find yet, some of the art we have seen looks exciting, will it al be Welsh in flavour or will it be contemporary art that happens to be made by artists from Wales, hopefully some of both. I know the art I made in Wales and art I will make again in Wales is different to the art I make in East London. I know that by art and my practice is informed by some great Welsh artists, I know I need to get back to my roots at some point (very) soon, Looking foward to seeing what the artists bring to next weekend. (sw)

London Welsh Centre is at 157-163 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8UE, Entry is free, at the moment you are being asked to book a timeslot, more details here

A flavour of some of the artists taking part in Exhibition of Contemporary Welsh Art, the ones we can find, maybe not te actual art they’re showing, but a flavour or two. Do please click on an image to enlarge or to run the slide show.