The Dreaming Retreat Centre

I am one of three mosaic artists creating a mosaic on an outside wall to reflect the landscape at the retreat centre based at Laura Ashley’s old home at Rhydoldog House in thed beautiful valley of Llansantffraed-Cwmdauddwr near Rhayader in Mid Wales

I have been commissioned to create an outdoor mosaic that visitors will see as they approach Charlotte Church’s Retreat Centre on the edge of Rhayader in Mid Wales. This is phase one of my contribution - two foot square.

The theme offered by Charlotte was to reflect the colours of the local landscape. I was very inspired by the beauty of the surrounding woodland around the house and the waterfalls cascading down through the rocks and vegetation. In the woods, there is a Japanese Tea Hut high on a rock which is featured here in the top centre of the piece using Oriental china which I have a particular love of. The two Japanese women enjoying their tea reflect the feminine aspect of the land at The Dreaming.

For this mosaic, Charlotte’s dream offered an image of golden beings weaving a river of song. I have depicted the golden beings as gold birds and fish. If you look along the river and waterfall you will see these and the little hearts and stars which float up from their beaks and mouths reflect the beauty of the song being weaved into the landscape.

I’m smiling but the installation onto a horizontal surface was a great challenge for me. But the end result was worth it!