Meet the maker: Bethan Wyn Williams

Born and raised in Denbighshire, Bethan Wyn Williams is the incredibly talented artist and surface pattern designer behind our Heritage Collection — a brand new range of products inspired by the Gothic Victorian interiors of Castell Coch, Wales’s fairy-tale castle.

Thanks to Bethan’s meticulous creative process, artistic vision and flair for image-based storytelling, the collection perfectly encapsulates both the heart and heritage of Cadw — and will soon be available to buy in selected Cadw gift shops and our online shop.

We caught up with her to discuss the inspiration behind her exclusive designs, which have been printed on a variety of products, from stationery and homeware to high-end accessories. You’ll be sure to find the perfect gift for someone you know, or a treat for yourself.

What was your favourite Cadw site as a child and is it still your favourite today? Growing up in north Wales, I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by incredible scenery and never far away from a multitude of Cadw sites. I have a particular fondness for Harlech Castle — a spectacularly statuesque fortress with a view that is hard to beat. What made you want to work on this project? It was incredibly important for me to design a collection of products that truly reflect values that I admire and believe in — so working with Cadw, an organisation that champions craftsmanship and heritage, has felt like a natural partnership.

Tell us about the design you have created for the Heritage Collection products; was it inspired by anything in particular? The new design was inspired by William Burges’s drawing room at Castell Coch — a relatively small space with an overwhelmingly magical interior, where every surface has been intricately hand-painted, enveloping the visitor in a whole host of dreamlike tales.

Taking inspiration from the key design details, I hand-painted my own take on Burges’s world: a complex repeating pattern full of life and the joys of the natural world, in a romanticised style reminiscent of the original designer’s approach.

The magnificent, decorated ceiling of Castell Coch's drawing room has provided inspiration for the design of Cadw's new Heritage Collection.

If you could pick only three pieces from the collection to have and use in your everyday life, which ones would you choose — and why? The Heritage Collection has been consciously designed to bring together quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail through a range of beautiful products that evoke memories of Castell Coch’s drawing room. If I had to choose, I’d have the printed, feather-light, silk scarf, the A6 hardback notebook to keep in my handbag for sketching and making notes and the printed velvet cushions, which have a sumptuous yet cosy feel about them. Cadw members will receive a preview of the Heritage Collection, with the opportunity to shop the range online before it is released to the public. You will also enjoy exclusive access to limited-edition prints decorated with gold-leaf accents, signed and numbered by the designer. Keep an eye out for the members preview link in our e-newsletters and social media channels.

Whether as a hobby or career, what advice would you give to someone looking to pursue art and print design? Creativity can be a beautiful antidote to the demands of everyday life and I would encourage everyone to explore ‘creating’ in whichever way feels right for them. Whether drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, pottery or gardening, the only way you progress is by making time in your week to practice. Don’t be disheartened if things don’t look exactly as you would like them to — just keep going and actively seek out new things to inspire you.

If you had to host a dinner party at one Cadw site with five of your favourite artists, where and who would you choose? My dinner party would be made up of some of my favourite things and, because of this, it would have to be held within the picturesque grounds of Denbigh Castle.

With a bright blue sky and the surrounding vivid green hills, there would be several Welsh blankets on the ground — as well as a picnic feast with plenty of freshly baked bread and cheese!

My guests would be made up of some of my creative idols from past and present, including the painter Gillian Ayres, iconic fashion designer and political activist, Vivienne Westwood, worldrenowned textile designer, William Morris, Austrian-born architect and designer, Josef Frank, and the truly bold painter and printmaker, Howard Hodgkin.