Apart from the fresh new look, the exciting new facilities such as the new play area, new picnic area, new viewpoint...and everything else that Conwy Connections has to offer, Conwy Connections has created many other opportunities, including the chance to work with some of Conwy’s greatest talents.
Artist Richard Hackett, from Colwyn Bay, painted a fresh new mural for the Tal-y-Fan hide. He took time away from his busy, creative schedule to talk to us about his work and Conwy Connections:
How familiar were you with Conwy reserve before working on the mural?
Conwy reserve is a place that my family and I like very much; I have visited many times over the last 15 years since shortly after my daughter was born. When she was old enough she joined the Wildlife Explorers Club run by Charlie and Jane which taught her a great deal and has instilled a love and understanding of wildlife and ecology. Now that she is older, she has progressed to helping out whenever she can with the WEX Club. My wife and I both enjoy walking the reserve, observing the wildlife and absorbing the peaceful atmosphere.
What inspired your design?
The image is a representation of the reserve as seen through the window of the hide with the castle in the landscape to add a reference point. I also wanted to take account of nocturnal animals so I painted the mural to represent the changing light conditions from early morning near the door to sunset on the far wall.
As an artist, I enjoy the challenge of designing murals that are both useful and decorative, so I added animals such as an otter, a fox and a rabbit as well as various bird species on the walls and the silhouettes of birds and bats on the ceiling with clouds. Visiting school parties are taken to Tal-y-Fan hide and I have included in my design a series of animals and birds painted onto shaped boards that the children can place on the walls themselves.
I have very much enjoyed working with the staff at Conwy Reserve and am pleased with the mural as it has turned out.
What do you think of Conwy Connections as a concept? How will it benefit the reserve?
I was unaware of the Conwy Connections project before I tendered for the mural, but having seen the plans I am impressed and think the development is in keeping with the RSPB ethos whilst adding to the visitor experience. I look forward very much to seeing the finished results. I think that the new buildings and landscape features should add interest to the reserve for visitors of all ages and give more scope for activities and events, which will keep the place in the public eye.
As a local man, how do you think the redevelopments will benefit the local area?
I know from my own conversations with visitors whilst working on site that many were excited by the changes and will revisit later to see the project completed. Increased visitor numbers on the reserve will probably have an effect on the local economy, either directly or indirectly.
Photos of Richad working on the Tal-y-Fan hide mural, by Laura Kudelska.
If you’d like to see more of Richard’s interesting work, including stones balance arts, a visit to his website is highly recommended:
http://www.floatingstones.co.uk/ or read his blog: http://richardhackett.wordpress.com/
We'll be meeting more of Conwy Connections talents soon, so keep an eye out for the next interview blog with another artist...which involves a big, steel........well, we're not going to give too much away now are we?!