Get to Know Tonnauglas Creative

Artist Biography

Following a rugby injury and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at 18 years old and leaving secondary education, I realized an ability for painting during my art studies in education in Cardigan Secondary School and foundation year in CCTA Carmarthen.

I realized with the nature of higher education and the high level of debt involved that the intelligent pathway with studying locally with Coleg Ceredigion later, provided an opportunity for studying furniture and joinery design and construction. I worked as an understudy in woodworking with a friend/master craftsman for two years after studying.

I returned to painting as this helped develop my confidence as I struggled with my working memory, I believe owing to the side effects of anti-psychotic medication. Painting provided me with a space in my mind to be myself and I felt there was a symphony playing in my mind (of which I already knew the composition, which played out in the medium of paint.) When I described this to a friend, they said it was “synesthesia”

I had some success with people liking my artwork and wanting to buy, but mainly, I just loved the joy painting brought me.

Glass Work

I first started to cast glass from plaster impressions formed from sand ripples on the beach during a glass workshop with the glass artist Bill Swann. I realized then that this piece had potential as an ecological art work, which would highlight the extreme beauty of our marine environment in our amazing coastal national park in Pembrokshire, West Wales, and, inspire people to conserve this beautiful place.