Poet Portraits
Lorraine Bewsey
20th September - 18th October

Lorraine Bewsey was born and brought up in London, moved to Wales with her partner and two children, and now lives in the upper Swansea Valley. She gained a degree in illustration at Swansea Institute and a PGCE; and worked as a tutor and freelance illustrator before establishing herself as a portrait artist.

‘Poet Portraits’ is a year long project she initiated in November 2005 to paint twenty leading poets with strong connections to Wales. She says of her work:
“Skill in drawing, in the subtle and accurate use of colour, are essential to me as an artist. I want my portraits not only to draw out the essential character of my subjects, but to be appreciated for the quality of line and tone. I want visitors to my exhibition to feel that the skill of an individual artist in drawing and painting is important. I want them to appreciate the continuity of artistic endeavour over the centuries.”
The portraits are executed in pastel on paper, in a uniquely expressive hyperrealist style, which has been greeted with universal praise by critics, curators, and the sitters themselves.

The Poet Portraits exhibition opened in the Wales Millennium Centre in November 2006 and has toured to Bodelwyddan Castle (Regional Partner of the National Portrait Gallery), Mount Street Gallery in Brecon, and the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, Wales House in Brussels, Wrexham Arts Centre, and Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw.

Lorraine has had events at the Hay Literature Festival and Brecon Jazz Fringe Festival. Her portrait of Twm Morys has been purchased by the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, that of Grahame Davies by Wrexham Borough Council.

An accompanying book, Poet Portraits / Portreadau Beirdd is published by Seren and features a poem by each of the poets alongside their portrait, together with an introduction by Anne Price-Owen and an essay by the artist.