PicturePerfect

Beth Horrocks is a contemporary artist based in Caernarfon. Here she tells us a little bit about her connection with this historic town…

Much has happened since Beth Horrocks’ first North Wales Magazine editorial last August, most notably in December she opened her very own gallery. Situated in Caernarfon’s fantastic new multi million pound Cei Llechi/Slate Quay waterfront development, with stunning views over the harbour and castle, it is sure to be a huge success.

We caught up with Beth to get an insight on what has been happening since we spoke with her last summer.

So you have a new gallery, tell us how this happened?

“It all began while waiting to participate in the popular ‘Race The Train’ running race at the end of July last year. The race starts at the Caernarfon end of the Welsh Highland Railway (just over the road from Cei Llechi). I had a little look around and was attracted to the fantastic buildings, little Welsh shops and the mixture of old and new architecture. There were some wonderful independent businesses; talented photographers, a blacksmith with a working forge, a fab café, a traditional sweet shop making home made fudge, a tapas restaurant, gift shops and furniture upcycling, ice cream parlour and seamstress/upholsterer. It was a collective hub of creatives which I felt I just had to be a part of.”

Why choose Caernarfon?

Caernarfon is steeped in Welsh history, it’s a World Heritage site and I think people don’t yet see it’s true worth or give it the credit it deserves. It’s a place with so much potential yet to be realised.

Caernarfon as a location has so much to offer, on one side you have the beautiful Victoria Doc with the fantastic Galeri arts centre with its theatre, cinema and café overlooking the boats in the doc. The enormous castle in all it’s drama standing proud with it’s walls hugging the town, offering interesting historical walks into colourful Palas Street with it’s lovely Welsh shops, architecture, quirky pubs, crêperie and cobbled streets. The Welsh language here thrives! It’s heart warming to know that if you start a conversation in Welsh, nine times out of ten you’ll be speaking Welsh for the remainder of that conversation.

What is Cei Llechi?

Cei Llechi used to be a bustling slate quay where Welsh slate was once processed and then shipped all over the world. My family has connections with the history of the quarries, both my Taid’s (grandad’s) were quarrymen in the Dinorwic quarry and my Nain (grandmother) also worked in the quarries as a cook.

As the slate industry became more modernised the buildings became disused and fell into ruins for many years. Lottery Heritage funding enabled the Harbour Trust and Galeri

Caernarfon to regenerate the whole site and create 19 individual commercial premises, along with some really cute holiday apartments.

This part of the town is a hidden gem! It’s situated between the fantastic new Welsh Highland Railway station and the magnificent Caernarfon Castle, which is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages and, what’s more, my gallery is on the first floor overlooking the harbour and castle – how lucky am I?!

Tell us more about your gallery…

My studio/gallery/shop is a very pleasing open plan space, where I feel completely relaxed to concentrate on my artwork. Out of the windows I can see the moored boats and the tide come and go from the harbour, the huge stone walls of the castle and the Menai Straits sparkling in the distance. As part of the existing old building it has a perfect gallery space, with tall ceilings for exhibiting my large pieces of work. It’s just perfect and I love it!

It ticked all the boxes for me, so my husband, my fatherin-law, myself and three kids got to work on it at the end of October and opened in December just before Christmas.

It’s child friendly with a kids chill out corner equipped with bean bags, books and an awesome lego table for your children to get creative, so the adults can peacefully browse/chat with me. Outside I have a balcony, where dogs are welcome to sit in the meantime and have a drink. For anyone with mobility issues there is also lift access, so no excuses for not coming to see me!

I am super proud of what we have achieved and enjoy coming to work each day, I still pinch myself and can’t quite believe that it’s my gallery, it’s certainly a dream come true.

What are you working on at the minute?

I’m really looking forward to the longer days and warmer weather so I can concentrate on capturing the local scenery in its best light. There have been some gorgeous sunsets while leaving work these past few months, the castle provides such a tremendous silhouette. I’ll be working on this piece next month.

I’ve just finished a collection of drawings of Llandudno, which I’ve been meaning to do for a while now. These will be available at my gallery, also available at Benards gallery in Craig Y Don, near Llandudno and The Little Gift Company in Rhos-On-Sea.

What’s next for the gallery?

I’m in the process of designing a set of bone china cups, tea towels, new 2024 calendar, note books, cushions and jigsaws. All of which I aim to stock before the summer. I’ve just unpacked two boxes of fabulous books which I’m excited to add to my shop, these are mainly interesting art, coastal photography, coastal architecture, gardening, interior design and cooking books inspired from all around the world. I’m also stocking ‘Inis’ – a wonderful new fragrance inspired by the sea, it’s a beautifully fresh clean smelling fragrance which I’ve fallen in love with.

There’s a lot to do for one person, will you be taking on staff in the near future?

My husband does all my framing, so it’s not just me, but yes you are right, there is a lot to do. I am looking to hire someone part-time to take on various business administration and development duties as well as work in the gallery/shop. I can’t be here six days a week, with a family – it’s not fair on them. Plus I want to get out and about looking for inspiration and enjoy this beautiful country!

Do you have any new stockists?

Yes I do, Benards in Craig Y Don have been waiting patiently for a Llandudno collection, which I have finally managed to do. I’ve just signed a contract with the brilliant Exchange in Beaumaris too, they have offered me a wall on the first floor, which I’m really excited about, so you’ll find me there a couple of days a month.

Being from Anglesey, are you taking part in the Anglesey Arts Week?

Yes I am, Bay Tree Gallery in Valley, one of my lovely stockists is on the Art Trail... they will be showcasing two new pieces of my work, inspired by a recent stay on the North West coast of Anglesey.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Firstly, I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has purchased my work, it gives me a massive sense of achievement to know that people like what I do. Secondly, I’ve been working from home on my own for the last ten years, so meeting people in my gallery is just a breath of fresh air, I love it! If you like what I do and want to come and talk to me personally then please come down to the gallery and say hello, I’m open Monday to Saturday 10am – 3pm. If you can’t come and see me then everything is available online at www.bethhorrocks.com. n

Stockists

YNYS MON / ANGLESEY

Bay Tree Gallery - Unit 4, The Precinct, Station Road, Valley, Holyhead, Ynys Môn, LL65 3EB

Oriel Ger Y Fenai - Holyhead Road, Llanfairpwll Ynys Môn, LL61 5YQ

Oriel Môn - Rhosmeirch, Llangefni, Ynys Môn, LL77 7TQ

Plas Newydd House & Gardens (National Trust) Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, LL61 6DQ

The Exchange - 6 Church St, Beaumaris, LL58 8AA

Pip & Darcy - 2 Wall Street, Beaumaris, Ynys Môn, LL58 8BS

LLŶN PENINSULA

Oriel Tonnau - 21 Stryd Penlan, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 5DE

Oriel Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw - Glyn-Y-Weddw Estate, Llanbedrog, Gwynedd, LL53 7TT

ERYRI / SNOWDONIA

Benards Gallery - 15 Queens Rd, Craig-y-Don, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 1AZ

Galeri Betws-Y-Coed - Holyhead Rd, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0BW

JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PURCHASED MY WORK, IT GIVES ME A MASSIVE SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE WHAT I DO

Oriel Beth Horrocks Gallery, Unit 19 (First Floor), Caernarfon, Gwynedd. LL55 2PB

Follow Beth on Instagram #horrocksbeth FACEBOOK: Bethhorrocks.com

Want to hear read more about Cei Llechi? Head to: ceillechi.cymru

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