Elin Sian Blake

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original painting is by the contemporary Welsh artist Elin Sian Blake.<br> The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic frame (which is shown in these photographs) and is supplied ready to hang and display.<br> The painting is signed lower left.<br> <br> Elin Siân Blake is a contemporary Brecon-based artist, originally from the South Wales valleys, whose work delves deeply into the rich tapestry of Welsh heritage. Through various mediums, she creates poignant reflections of societal and cultural issues that have shaped the Welsh identity. <br> <br> Born in 1981, Elin Siân Blake began producing commissioned artwork from an early age, focussing on the traditional Welsh ponies and landscapes of her childhood. She was particularly inspired by the agricultural and equestrian events she attended. As a teenager she spent all her spare money on art supplies. Blake graduated from the University of Glamorgan in 2002 with a degree in graphic design and illustration, but quickly realised that she wanted to create conventional paintings, rather than producing digital images. She then spent several years living on the road in vintage vehicles, painting the scenes and characters she encountered on her travels.<br> <br> Blake taught herself oil painting using library books, originally producing very detailed photo-realistic images. Her artistic style developed considerably over the years, becoming more expressive.<br> Blake’s main emphasis is always her love of images from the Welsh countryside and industry. As she explores the heritage of the Welsh valleys, she paints a social commentary on everyday Welsh working life. Her work captures the essence of Welsh tradition whilst simultaneously challenging societal norms. Bold and evocative, Blake's art invites the viewer to take a critical look at the complexities and nuances of Welsh heritage. By melding her artistic vision with a profound cultural understanding, she presents a thought-provoking examination of the past, present, and future of Wales.<br> <br> © Big Sky Fine Art<br> <br> Worm's Head is a headland, at Rhossili, and part of the County of Swansea in South Wales. It is the further westerly point of the Gower Peninsula. The name Worm’s Head is derived from an Old English word ‘wyrm’ for ‘sea serpent’. The headland is comprised of carboniferous limestone and comprises three islands: the Inner Head, the Middle Head which features a collapsed sea cave which is known as the Devil's Bridge, and the Outer Head. In total, it is approximately one mile long. The Inner Head is up to 200 yards wide. Worm's Head is only accessible on foot for a couple of hours either side of low tide, and it is fatal to attempt to wade or swim to when the causeway from the mainland is flooded. The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas once described Worm’s Head as “the very promontory of depression” after he was forced to spend a night on the Head after being trapped by the tide.<br> <br> The view presented by the artist here is a much more positive one, with the sheer wild beauty of this place being captured magnificently.