Art students showcase work on Pentre Awel development hoardings
Art and design students at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Carmarthen School of Art are showcasing their artwork which has been displayed on hoardings at the new multi-million-pound development site at Pentre Awel.
Students who took part are studying a level three University of the Arts London (UAL) course at the college’s Pibwrlwyd campus in Carmarthen.
In collaboration with Carmarthenshire County Council and construction company Bouygues UK, students were given a live brief which asked for seven panel designs to represent each wellbeing goal of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, which include a healthier Wales, a globally responsible Wales and a Wales of vibrant culture and language.
The Pentre Awel Llanelli-based development is a key regeneration project for Carmarthenshire County Council which aims to have a positive impact on the region.
Students attended a launch of the new display with community partners at the Pentre Awel site where they could see for themselves the continuous growth of the development and see their designs in place at the site entrance.
Rebecca Sellick, a Coleg Sir Gâr art and design lecturer who leads the project said: “The students embraced the opportunity and delivered exceptional designs that beautifully encapsulate the seven well-being goals. Their work not only fulfils the project’s brief but also adds a vibrant and meaningful touch to the construction site.”
Coleg Sir Gâr’s Assistant Director for Carmarthen, Jamie Hawkins, who also heads the college’s Carmarthen School of Art said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students, they’ve really enjoyed working to a live brief with professional organisations. What was particularly great for us was that we could open it up to our level three group as most industry briefs are pitched at degree level students.”
Art and design student Tyler Davies said: “My artwork is a photograph of my best friend Kinga who has flowers that each have meanings like hope and joy, new beginnings. The work shows a plaster that has the word hope on it and it’s all about mental health and how this will help everyone with their own mental health. The plaster’s meaning is to heal. I was inspired to go down this route as I’ve had personal struggles with mental health and I think it’s an important message to share.”
Art and design students Lowri Jones, Ffion Jones and William Mee spoke about their involvement: “We used a selection of different artworks, which we created ourselves and put together. We used a lot of different mediums, there was drawing, painting, watercolour and acrylic, then we used a digital platform to make it all cohesive so it all worked together.
“For the Globally Responsible Wales panel, we wanted to highlight the things we were already doing, so not necessarily not what we could be doing but focusing on what amazing work Wales is already doing.”
Leah Jenkins said: “Evie and myself worked together on this piece, Evie designed egg cocoons with a string weave and in each egg, there is a different community aspect and also a representation of some of the activities that will be available at the centre, so the swimming, exercise, work area, dancing and care home at the top and the people outside weaving it together, all working together.”
Eva Batten added: “It was great to be able to have professional feedback along the way so that we could work with Bouygues UK in delivering something that was collaboratively put together.”
Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The Pentre Awel development is a key regeneration project for Carmarthenshire County Council which will have a huge positive impact on the region and the people living within the community for years to come.
“In recognition of this positive impact, we at Bouygues UK worked alongside Coleg Sir Gâr to devise a design project for the college students. We wanted the hoarding around the site entrance to be designed to express the positive effects that Pentre Awel will have on the local community. The students have done an amazing job, all producing outstanding work that portray the core values of Pentre Awel in an eye-catching and thought-provoking way.”
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans added: “Having the opportunity to meet the young people of Coleg Sir Gâr who have created these excellent pieces of artwork has been time well spent. The students through their artwork show their vision for what Pentre Awel means to them and I am glad that these are on display for the public to see. As said on the boards, we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Pentre Awel, a development that can be accessed by all. Thank you to the students and their tutors for all their hard work on this project.”
About the course
About Coleg Sir Gar: Coleg Sir Gar is dedicated to providing high-quality education and training, preparing students for successful futures. The UAL Level 3 Art and Design programme equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the creative industries.
Follow the arts teams on @carmarthenschoolofart @ysgolgelfcaerfyrddin @colegsirgar
Winning designs:
Healthier Wales Board - Isabelle French Wells
Resilient Wales Board - Tyler Davies & Ollie Leale
Globally Responsible Wales - Ffion Jones, Lowri Jones, Will Mee
Prosperous Wales - Eva Batten and Harper James
Cohesive Communities - Evie Hare and Leah Jenkins
Wales of Thriving Welsh Language and Culture - Nesta Jones
Equal Wales - Mica Dundas Thomas and Cerys Fuller
