AS one of the most celebrated Welsh artists working today, Brendan Stuart Burns is the first artist-in-residence at Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery, St. Davids.
The residency is part of The Hidden Landscape programme at the gallery, visitor and education centre run by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.
Known for his delicate, abstract paintings inspired by the Pembrokeshire landscape - in particular the idyllic, isolated Druidston Haven beach - Brendan's work reflects the ever-changing beauty of the area.
Brendan Stuart Burns said: "This is a wonderful chance to create and document work in a new way with a new body of work. I will inevitably respond differently as I will have the luxury of exploring the beach and taking walks in the National Park and almost stepping immediately into the studio - not travelling a hundred miles back to Cardiff."
Oriel y Parc's commissioning curator Sally Moss said: "Residencies at Oriel y Parc will enable artists to experiment with new ideas and images that interest or intrigue them - by providing 'time out' in our Artist's Studio and out in the landscape. An added bonus is that they can interact with the national collections in the gallery.
"Brendan Burns is a thoughtful and thought-provoking artist who we are privileged to welcome to Oriel y Parc. We hope he, and future artists-in-residence, will produce new work that is inspired by Pembrokeshire and the unique environment of Oriel y Parc in the National Park."
Within the new gallery, a purpose-built artist studio and separate exhibiting space will be available to the artist-in-residence and on occasions visitors will be able to view works in progress with the artist.
On Thursday, February 19, at 2 pm, and Thursday, May 7, at 2 pm, there will be Tea and Talks in the Discovery Room at Oriel y Parc, where Brendan will discuss his work with visitors.
Brendan's residency is part of Celf Cymru Gyfan-ArtShare Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales' Visual Arts Partnership Project supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. It will end with an exhibition in October featuring the new body of work and links with the national collection.
Other elements of The Hidden Landscape include a major changing exhibition of treasures from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales; Sparking Curiosity - a series of talks by expert staff from the museum; workshops and activities for schools, families and adults in Oriel y Parc's Discovery Room - or outside in the landscape.
For more information about Oriel y Parc log onto http://www.orielyparc.co.uk">www.orielyparc.co.uk, where you can see Brendan talking about the National Park and his gallery residency.