The Welsh legend of the Lady of the Lake — Llyn y Fan Fach — is one of the most quietly powerful stories I know. A mysterious woman rising from the water, a farmer who wins her hand, a bargain made and eventually broken, and the physicians of Myddfai who follow.
It's a story rooted in the landscape I walk and paint. The lake sits above Llanddeusant, not far from Craig y Nos. On a still morning, with mist across the water, it's not difficult to imagine.
A triptych in three parts
I've been developing a three-panel workshop series around this legend:
1. The first panel: the moment Excalibur is offered — water, light, stillness. 2. The second: the wedding, full of colour and warmth. 3. The third: the return to the lake — muted tones, a sense of loss and mystery.
Each panel works on its own. Together they tell a story.
Why legends matter in art
Welsh mythology gives us something geography alone can't — emotional depth. When I paint the Beacons, I'm not just painting hills. I'm painting a place where stories happened, where people made sense of the world through narrative. That's worth exploring.
If you'd like to take part in the Lady of the Lake workshop series when it runs, get in touch and I'll let you know when places are available.
Join a workshop
Every Tuesday and Saturday, 10:30am – 1:00pm at Abercrave Welfare Hall. All materials and refreshments included.
Book a place
