Arts and Crafts

in and around the Brecon Beacons.

Artbeat Brecon

Art,music & design in Brecon.
Artbeat Brecon was formed as a group to promote the unique galleries and cultural enterprises within Brecon. Well known for the outstanding natural beauty of the area, Brecon remains a thriving market town and is rapidly becoming a great focal point for the creative arts in Mid Wales.

Beacons Crafts

Beacons Crafts is a makers' co-operative venture with an art and craft shop in the centre of Brecon. You can find their shop in Bethel Square, Brecon LD3 7JP. Open 10am to 5pm, Monday - Saturday (plus additional hours in summer and some Sundays and Bank Holidays). Tel: 01874 625706

There are a broad range of opportunities for you to learn a new skill in a variety of classes and workshops all over the area.

The Hay Makers

The Hay Makers is a co-operative of professional designer makers, with a reputation for high quality crafts. Visitors will find a broad range of work on display in relaxed and friendly surroundings.

Located in the centre of Hay-on-Wye the gallery is open seven days a week, 10.30 to 5.00. One of the members will always be in the gallery during opening hours.

The Oriel CRiC Gallery, Crickhowell

This gallery is part of the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre on Beaufort Street and is managed and run by the Charity.

An annual programme of exhibitions includes a wide range of work by local artists and crafts people, as well as visiting artists. The gallery has shown significant growth since its opening in 2006 and is gaining a reputation as a venue for Welsh art and craft of exceptional quality. The gallery reflects the inspiration found in the landscape of the Brecon Beacons and surrounding area.

Fully accessible, open daily and staffed by volunteers who offer a warm welcome to visitors. CRiC also offers tourist information, internet access, room hire and a small coffee bar on site. Tel 01873 811970

The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery

Located in the village of Llantilio Pertholey, less than 2 miles from the market town of Abergavenny,The Court Cupboard showcases the work of
the Black Mountains Circle craft makers. Along with the many varied Arts and Crafts on show,visitors can enjoy refreshments and locally made cakes by 'Clams' in the comfortable Coffee shop, which is manned daily by different members who make some of the craft items on display in the galleries. Open Every Day:
Summer: 10.30am - 5.00pm (March 3rd - 0ctober 28th)
Winter: 10.30am - 4.00pm (0ctober 29th - March 2nd)

Monnow Valley Arts Centre

Monnow Valley Arts Centre promotes contemporary sculpture, carved lettering and landscape painting through exhibitions, workshops and lectures at their gallery and sculpture park in South Herefordshire on the borders with Wales. Current exhibitions include:
Gallery: Greg Tricker, Revelation Paintings.
Studio: Gordon House (1932-2004), The Welsh Portfolio.
Parterre Garden: A sculpture installation by Abu Jafar.
Memory Gardens: Art & Memory.
Open: Wednesday - Friday 11 am - 6 pm
Saturday & Sunday 2 - 5 pm
Monnow Valley Arts Centre, Walterstone, nr Abergavenny, Herefordshire HR2 0DY
Tel: 01873 860529

Erwood Station Craft Centre & Gallery

This craft centre and gallery, located in a picturesque rural railway station beside the River Wye, is the home of Platform 1 Arts & Crafts Association, formed by a group of craftspeople and artists living and working in "Llewellyn Country", mid-Wales.

Open every day: 9.30am - 5.30pm: mid February to December 24th, where you can watch woodturners and craftsmem at work in the studio.

Toilets. Refreshments, with fresh home made cakes. Art gallery in a railway carriage. Craft shop.

Galleries in the Black Mountains

A visit to Downey Barn Gallery, Cwmyoy and Cellar Gallery, Walterstone, combines unique art galleries and dramatic views of the Black Mountains - close to the historic market town of Abergavenny.

The two galleries house permanent exhibitions, with original paintings and high quality framed and unframed prints for sale at realistic prices.

The artists, Christine Hunt and Caroline Downey first met in 1994 while studying at Hereford College of Art and Design and went on to exhibit together, successfully selling their work and gaining recognition for their talent.

Both galleries are open most days but it is advisable to telephone before making a special journey. Apart from the stunning views there are walks and many places to visit in the area with friendly pubs serving good home-made food. Information leaflets and guides are available at the galleries. So if you are looking for a special gift or just browsing you will be made very welcome. Tel 01873 890293.

Woodland Turnery, Mamhilad

Woodland Turnery is a family run business specialising in the use of Welsh Hardwoods to produce a wide range of turned and pyrographed wooden products including unusual and unique clocks, lace bobbins, bread / chopping boards, bowls and bellows. Much of the family's time is dedicated to demonstrations, exhibitions, giving talks and running workshops across Wales and England.

You can visit their stall at Brecon Farmer's Market on the second Saturday of each month (excluding August) or Abergavenny Farmer's Market on the third Thursday of each month.

You can also visit them at the Woodland School, where they hold all-day Wood Turning courses,(maximum 2 students a day) Pyrography courses (maximum 3 students a day) or a combination of ½ day woodturning and ½ day pyrography. Booking is essential but courses can be booked at short notice by telephone.

If you would like to visit their workshop, you can phone to make an appointment on 07901 790543.

Black Mountain Gallery, Cwmllynfell

Black Mountain Gallery is a small family run business, set up in the mid '90s by British artists Muriel Williams and Mark Lloyd Williams (mother and son) as a place to create paintings and sculpture.

Visitors are welcome to have a look at the sort of work they do at their working studio and print shop and although they don't maintain a large volume of work for customers to buy "off the shelf", it's an excellent way of seeing the quality and variety of what they do.

Just give them a quick call beforehand on 01639 830920.

You can also request a free postcard-sized print sample of their work by e-mailing them your name and address to: sales@blackmountaingallery.com

Crafts Alive, Llandeilo

Crafts Alive is a community crafts shop based in the small market town of Llandeilo, in the heart of south-west Wales. The co-operative brings together over 60 local crafts people from the area to offer their work for sale.

To see a selection of beautiful crafts ranging from traditional wooden lovespoons to pottery, glassware, soft furnishings & textiles, silver jewellery & much more & to meet the people who make them, why not visit the Crafts Alive Shop on Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo.

There is always a friendly crafts-person on hand to help!

Open Monday to Saturday: 9.30am - 5.30pm. Tel: 01558 822883.

Arts Alive

The Centre for Creative Arts in Crickhowell hosts creative workshops and events exploring how we relate to our environment, from weaving and ceramics to painting and photography.

Celf o Gwmpas

Celf o Gwmpas Arts Round and About promotes and provides high quality arts experiences primarily for adults with learning disabilities, creating new artwork in the communities of Powys.

Art Courses

Llanthony Art Courses offer a variety of 2 to 3 day creative courses in a spectacular setting in the National Park. Spacious studio, professional tutors, great food. Phone 01873 890343.

Coracle Making & Willow Sculpture Workshops

Middle Ninfa Farm provides one day willow sculpting and three day traditional coracle building courses using willow grown on their own farm nestled on the side of the Blorenge. Phone: 01873 854662.

Make your own Split Tenon Stool

Mark Rowland, Furniture Designer and Maker, runs the Pwll Workshops on the north end of the Skirrid Mountain. You can book on a one day course, where you are taken step-by-step through the construction of your stool, learning some traditional hand tool skills and wood technology along the way, leaving you with your own creation to take home. Phone: 01873 890633 (Day) or
01873 890447 (Eve).