Projects
I am available for a variety of projects.
I look for innovative projects that have a definite outcome.
Skilled in research, writing, exhibition development and curation, social media, working with community groups, grant applications
and museum mentoring.
With broad experience in the museum, heritage and arts sector, I will bring my proven track record of creative skills to any project.
Current Projects
Community Gardens 2023
Working for Tenby Town Council to create interpretation panels on history of public garden spaces around Tenby.
Museum Mentoring
Crankies with Peter Stevenson
Thanks to funding from the Welsh Federation of Museums, I have successfully obtained a grant for renowned Welsh storyteller, illustrator and writer Peter Stevenson to undertake a storytelling session based around the Mabinogion at Narberth Museum in September. Peter will be using Crankies (an illustrated scroll that creates a moving backdrop) in his talk and there will be the opportunity to make your own crankie during the session. Great fun!
Nicky Wire at Narberth Museum
Thrilled to announce that, for the second time, I had the good fortune of working with Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers on a solo art exhibition of his work. This opened to the public at Narberth Museum on Tuesday 6th August. So proud that he chose me again to curate his exhibition after having curated his first solo exhibition back in 2018. And he’s such a nice guy to work with! The exhibition will run until 13 December 2024 and all works will be available for viewing on Narberth Museum’s website.
Renewable Energy at Milford Haven Museum
I am currently working with Milford Haven Museum on a new exhibition based around renewable energies in the area. The project has been funded by UK Government’s Sustainable Communities Fund. It is exploring all the renewable energy projects that are taking place in this part of Pembrokeshire.
Performance Pieces
Following the successes of my two former performance pieces, A Face Behind The Glass (on artist Gwen John) and For As Long As Forever Is (on Dylan Thomas) and the forthcoming perfromance of the Nina Hamnett/Aleister Crowley piece A Devilsh Affair (more on this page), I am currently writing a new piece to be performed in 2025. I don’t want to say too much about it at this stage but am very excited about this one! Watch this space
Dylan Thomas Talk at Tenby Arts Club
I wil be giving my talk on Dylan Thomas and the creation and legacy of Under Milk Wood for Tenby Arts Club on 18 October 2024. This will be held at St John’s Church Hall at 7pm. Tickets will be available on the door.
Guest curating exhibitions at HaverHub
Working with artists and the staff at HaverHub in Haverfordwest, guest curating art exhitions for 2024 and beyond.
Preparing interpretive text
For a former Arcade building in Tenby being refurbished as a community space.
A Devilish Affair
As part of Tenby’s Community Festival 2024, my performance piece A Devilish Affair will be performed at Church House, Tenby on Friday 27th September at 7pm. The piece centres around the libel trial between Nina Hamnett and Aleister Crowley that delayed the publication of her memoir, Laughing Torso. I am once again being joined by a brilliant group of actors – Andrew Davies (as Crowley), Harry Gardiner, Jayne Kings, Emma Lewis and Sharon Thompson who is taking on the role of Nina.
Narberth Museum
Working with Narberth Museum on future exhibitions and displays and taking responsibility for their social media posts.
Previous Projects
Dylan Thomas at Narberth Museum
On 9 November a new exhibition centred around Dylan Thomas, which I conceived and curated, opened at Narberth Museum in November 2023.
Entitled ‘Titbits & Topsyturvies’, the exhibition features art works by Seimon Pugh-Jones based around characters in the play. Also included are film memorabilia from the 1971 film version of the play for voices, including a film poster signed by the director Andrew Sinclair, and a painting by Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire from the Manic Street Preachers), based on Dylan.
I also organised a series of events during the show including readings, a podcast, talks and a performance piece.
Cymbrogi Futures
Worked on a film project for Cymbrogi Futures.
Winter of Wellbeing and Summer of Fun
Welsh Government & The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales Grants 2022
Dylan Thomas Talk for International Dylan Thomas Day
I am honoured to have been asked by Carmarthenshire Museum Service/CofGar to give my talk on Under Milk Wood at the Dylan Boathouse in Laugharne on 14 May 2024, International Dylan Thomas Day. Very excited about this.
Historic Benchmarks 2023
Radio 6 interview in 2022 with Lauren Laverne regarding '6 Museum' series
Exhibitions
Including: Story of Tenby; Maritime History of Tenby; Welsh Film – Forged in Wales; D-Day 75th Anniversary; “The Loo-vre” (art display in Museum visitor toilet, working with schools)
Tenby Steampunk Festival
Researching and writing a series of history based panels, wrting and presenting a talk on on HG Wells and the 1960 film version of The Time Machine, plus co-curating an art exhibition, for Tenby Steampunk Festival 2024
Museum Booklets
Anti-Racist Action Plan - 2021/22
Welsh Government used these anti-racist projects as examples at Museums Association Conference; Race Equality Events – including: Our Connections with Africa, 2020; Windrush Celebration, 2022; Our Voices Our Museums project, 2022 (working with Natalie Jones and Welsh Government)
One World Exhibition, working with Artisan Avenue – 2021
Llangwmlitfest
On August 10, as part of the Llangwmlitfest, I was in conversation with Roger Lewis, author of the new book Erotic Vagrancy: Everything about Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The talk lasted an hour (30 minutes conversation, 30 minutes Q&A) and was very well received. It was a fantastic event and any opportunity to talk about Burton is, for me, time well spent.
Writing and recording mini podcasts for RNIB - 2021/22
Audio descriptions of museum collections for the visually impaired.
Museum Crush, Culture 24 - 2021/22
Five articles on heritage and culture, including: Augustus John, Charles Darwin and Kenneth Griffith.
Welsh-Ukrainian Cultural Exchange project, 2022
Working with Ukrainian refugees, resulting in an art exhibition.
Museum from Home - 2020
Events and talks
Including: community group ‘Tenby Project’ (people with disabilities); writing The Portrait Speaks (a creative way of looking at portraits in galleries, 2016).
Art Exhibitions
Sourced and liaised with artists; dealt with all marketing and invites; art gallery layout and hang; plus organisation of opening event and delivering Curator’s speech.
Art Exhibition highlights include:
Nicholas Jones (aka Nicky Wire, Manic Street Preachers) – debut solo art exhibition
Mark Raggett – Art Director, ‘The Crown’
Aneurin Jones, Meirion & Joanna Jones
John Uzzell-Edwards & Charlie Uzzell-Edwards (aka ‘Pure Evil’)
Artisan Avenue – highlighting work by refugees and community lockdown art (Tenby Shares)
Alan Salisbury
John Knapp-Fisher
Theo Crutchley-Mack
Claudia Williams
Gwylim Prichard
VC Gallery – local armed services veterans and those with mental or physical disabilities
Barry John MBE
Schools and Community Art Projects
Working with Mark has been invaluable to the success of my latest exhibition. He brings a deep level of insight and experience into the visual arts and is always a pleasure to work with, with his easy manner and principled standpoint. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity I get to work with Mark.
Each time he has undertaken the hanging process himself and I have always been more than pleased with the result. Mark’s efficient running of the gallery, involving the generation of publicity for the shows both by word of mouth, in the locality, and on social media, has always encouraged good attendance. His enthusiasm for the visual arts, both historical and contemporary, is manifest in his professional and cordial manner.
Videos & Podcasts