12/04/2025
Oriel y Dyfodol, y Pierhead
An exhibition by Grahame Hurd-Wood
Sponsored by Eluned Morgan MS
In 2013, Grahame Hurd-Wood embarked on an ambitious project to paint a portrait of every resident in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.
“The City Of Portraits Project is an ongoing, deeply personal celebration of the people, lives, and stories of my community in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire.”
“With a resident population of around 1,800, this small city has become my home for many years, and through the series of portraits, I am creating a lasting tribute to its unique and tight-knit spirit.”
“The project began over a decade ago, inspired by the request of my fiancée who was battling cancer, to paint her portrait. Little did I know, this act would become a poignant part of her legacy, as I completed the painting after her passing.”
“As I continued painting portraits, the project evolved into a heartfelt homage to St. Davids and the community of individuals who call it home. Each portrait I paint is an attempt to catch the essence of the person in front of me. It’s not just about physical likeness but about discovering the unique spirit that makes each individual who they are.”
“The portraits are painted on small canvases and later assembled into large grid formations, each measuring 1m². When viewed as a collective, they become more than a sum of their parts, offering a striking visual representation of the diversity, warmth, and interconnectedness of this remarkable community.”
– Grahame Hurd-Wood
Arddangosfa gan Grahame Hurd-Wood
Noddir gan Eluned Morgan AS
Yn 2013, penderfynodd Grahame Hurd-Wood ddechrau prosiect uchelgeisiol i beintio portread o bob un o drigolion Tyddewi, Sir Benfro.
“Mae Prosiect Dinas Portreadau yn ddathliad parhaus, hynod bersonol o bobl, bywydau a straeon fy nghymuned yn Nhyddewi, Sir Benfro.”
“Mae’r ddinas fechan hon, sydd â bron 1,800 o drigolion, wedi bod yn gartref i mi ers blynyddoedd lawer, a thrwy gyfres o bortreadau, rwy’n creu teyrnged barhaol i’w hysbryd unigryw a chlos.”
“Dechreuodd y prosiect dros ddegawd yn ôl, wedi’i ysbrydoli gan gais fy nyweddi, a oedd yn brwydro yn erbyn canser, i beintio ei phortread. Ychydig a wyddwn y byddai’r weithred hon yn dod yn rhan deimladwy o’i gwaddol, gan i mi gwblhau’r paentiad ar ôl iddi farw.”
“Wrth i mi barhau i beintio portreadau, fe droes y prosiect yn deyrnged ddiffuant i Dyddewi a’r gymuned o unigolion sy’n ei alw’n gartref. Mae pob portread rwy’n ei beintio yn ymgais i grisialu hanfod y person o’m blaen. Nid mater o bortreadu’r golwg corfforol yn unig yw hyn; mae a wnelo hefyd â datgelu’r elfen unigryw sy’n gwneud pob unigolyn pwy ydyw.”
“Mae’r portreadau’n cael eu paentio ar gynfasau bach ac yn ddiweddarach yn cael eu rhoi at ei gilydd ar ffurf grid mawr, pob un yn 1m². O edrych ar y darnau fel grŵp, maen nhw’n dod yn fwy na’u rhannau unigol, gan gynnig cynrychiolaeth weledol drawiadol o amrywiaeth, cynhesrwydd a chydgysylltiad y gymuned ryfeddol hon.”
– Grahame Hurd-Wood
