'The Helen Duncan Witchcraft Trial' - A recent spooky, spirit art commission that I have enjoyed working on.

A Spooky story from Zoe Ellis Moore

As well as concentrating on my fine art practice and doing a bit of en plein air painting with Art North Wales over the summer, I have also been working on a very exciting illustration and portrait commission for a book which is currently being written about the 'Helen Duncan Witchcraft Trial'. Helen Duncan being the last person in Britain to be convicted under the witchcraft act of 1735 and thus earning the unfortunate title of 'Britain's Last Witch'.

The commission was born of an idea from a professor at St Andrew's University who came across a print of one of my spirit inspired paintings hanging in a church in Edinburgh. The initial brief became an exciting collaboration over time and has been unlike anything else I have undertaken during my career as an artist.

I was asked to create illustrations/portraits of some of the characters involved in the trial (nine in total including Helen herself) and to document my spirit art process as I attempted to connect with their discarnate spirits.

What followed was an incredible journey of triumphs and failures which I was able to learn from and build upon to enhance my practice. I have always had an interest in spiritualism, mysticism and the occult paired with art and a healthy sense of scepticism, so this project ticked every box for me. I'm looking forward to sharing more about my experiences of this collaboration with you after the book has been published.

'Spirit of Helen Duncan' - oils on canvas (Britain's last witch)

This is the finished portrait of Helen Duncan and the only reference available for this artwork was an old, blurry black and white photograph so it was quite a challenge.

The imagery involved (the pink rose and triple moon design) derives from clairvoyant visions and various other prompts from spirit (clairaudient and clairsentient to be specific). The pink rose representing the spiritual gift that was thrust upon her from above, the rosebud representing how that gift was problematic and unable to bloom as it should have done while Helen was alive. The triple moon design being indicative of her infamous and unfortunate title of 'Britain's Last Witch', the pink in this design echoing the pink of the rose...the colour of love and spirituality.

For more information contact Zoe Ellis Moore - www.zoellismoore.com

Landscape: A Living Process

'The Source of The Spirit'

I approach each of my landscape paintings as a lived experience - attempting to capture the spirit of a place beyond its picturesque surface or objective appearance.

A landscape that recalls history, myth, or legend remains part of a continual lived process in which humanity appears fleeting and contemplative.

My oil painting of the Rhiwargor waterfall at the head of Lake Vyrnwy represents, on the one hand, a breathtaking and dynamic geological feature. Beneath the surface, however, lies a deeper metaphysical narrative.

'The Source of The Spirit'

'The majestic Rhiwargor Falls cascade into Lake Vrynwy, a Victorian reservoir built in the 1880s to supply water to Liverpool, 65 miles away. So pure is its water that it was sourced in the production of Bombay Sapphire Gin by distiller G&J Greenall in Warrington until 2013.

Yet it's not the only spirit to emerge from these waters. Beneath the lake lies the drowned village of Llanwddyn. Folklore describes the spirit of Yspryd Cynon lying beneath a prominent boulder. When labourers blasted the stone, its vengeful spirit was released.

Visiting Rhiwargor Falls will invoke many spirits, whether their elemental force is real or imagined'.

Stephen Hopper

http://www.stephenhopper.net/

Interview with Paul Pigram by Diane Lawton

Hello Paul Pigram of Bodnant Art School, Founder of ART North Wales and the Conwy Arts Festival.

When did you move to North Wales and why?

I moved here with my wife Kate in the summer of 2015.

In previous years I was a partner in an advertising agency in Mold and most of my clients were based in the North Wales region. I always said that I would move here permanently... so here we are. It is truly "Heaven on Earth!"

Paul, you have a book published called Beginning Pastel. How did that happen?

That happened out of the blue just a year after moving here, in the autumn of 2016.

A leading art publisher in the USA called Walter Foster, part of the worldwide Quarto Group, asked me to produce the book. It took over six months to complete 128 pages with 300 images. Kate did all of the photography in our kitchen! It is still available and selling well across the world. 

In 2017 you opened Bodnant Art School in Tal y Cafn?

Yes! I always wanted to create an Art School where I could teach pastel painting. In January 2017 I opened my new studio and in the April I hosted a book launch for Beginning Pastel. I held many successful pastel workshops throughout the following seven years and invited other professional artists to teach in other mediums, such as oil, watercolour, acrylic, lino printing and others. 

We now specialise in pastel painting workshops held throughout the year from the Parkway Community Centre, Rhos on Sea. 

I understand you were responsible for developing and curating an impressive art gallery at Bodnant Craft Centre?

Yes we did. I put forward an idea to convert the first floor of Bodnant Craft Centre into a dedicated Art Gallery, featuring some of the best professional artists from across North Wales. We had six weeks to complete the task and launched Bodnant Art Gallery in September 2018. Over 100 people attended the Preview.

Tell me why you and Kate founded ART North Wales?

Following on from creating Bodnant Art Gallery, we had the idea in 2019 to bring together all the artists under one strong brand. So, in 2020 ART North Wales was born! It was designed to showcase the artistic talent that we have here in North Wales. This year we are celebrating our 5th birthday and we now have over fifty professional artists in our collective.

You and Kate founded Conwy Arts Festival in 2024.

What are the plans for this year?

2024 was a resounding success! We want to build on that success going forward. 

We are developing collaborations with as many like minded people as possible to make CAF25 bigger and better than last year. This year we will be including an exciting new event "The Affordable Art Fair" which will be held in the newly refurbished Neuadd Ni Church Hall, Rose Hill Street, Conwy. Opposite the Conwy Castle Car Park.

Our aim is to create an Arts Festival that suits such a world famous and historically important town. We believe in "Supporting the Arts and Businesses in the Local Conwy Community".

New dates and a new look logo just announced for Conwy Arts Festival 2026. Lots of new activities being planned as we speak!

And finally, tell me about Paul the artist.

Do you ever find time to paint?

I try to paint as much as I can!

Living literally on the edge of the National Trust's world renowned Bodnant Garden gives me endless inspiration for my landscapes. 

In addition, I aim to create something new every year. I launched a series of Punch and Judy paintings last year to celebrate the history of Punch and Judy in North Wales. 

I'm now working on something completely different which will be revealed very soon!

Thank you Paul