LATEST PROJECTS New work by Ieuan Rees

Gwynfor Evans Memorial at Garn Coch, Carmarthenshire

Click on image for a larger version - Photo credit - Rhobert ap Steffan

On Saturday 15th July 2006, a permanent memorial stone was erected to the late politician, Gwynfor Evans, on the Garn Coch. Gwynfor would often walk in this area seeking inspiration when the family lived between Bethlehem and Llangadog and he requested his family to scatter his ashes at the site.

The memorial stone, weighing 7.5 tons, was quarried in Llandybie and his name was carved on it by Ieuan Rees, who has been responsible for a number of memorials to historic Welsh figures.

Meleri Mair, for Dr Evans' family, said the monument was a "very striking and a worthy tribute. The family is especially pleased that Ieuan Rees undertook the work of preparing the stone, as he's one of the experts in his field and we greatly admire his work."

IEUAN REES
THE LETTERING & CALLIGRAPHY STUDIO.

Reprinted from an article by David Fielding in Carmarthenshire Life

It is 46 years since leuan Rees first picked up a chisel and started on his long and illustrious career as a hand carver of lettering in stone.
Wales is too modest about its achievements - and its achievers. That modesty probably stems from the natural rough and ready democratic attitude the Welsh adopt in sizing up people. You are judged as the man you are seen to be. The 'been there, done that, got the T-shirt' attitude counts for nothing, though in leuan's case if he were to wear the T-shirt you can bet it would be beautifully lettered.
It was artist Julian Brown who suggested leuan as a fitting subject for a profile for this magazine. The two had worked together for a short time at Carmarthen School of Art. Normally Julian is very critical of art and artists in Wales. This time there was a note of respect, even awe, in his voice.
"One of the best in the world."
For whilst leuan Rees may not be known to many people in the outside world, within his own craft he is respected world-wide as among the very best carvers of slate and stone now working.
Examples of his work are to be found in Westminster Abbey in floor plaques for Sir Laurence Olivier, Lewis Carroll and Stanley Baldwin; in front of Dyfed Powys police head¬quarters; at the Millennium centre in Cardiff; on the credits of the tv comedy series the Vicar of Dibley; on a Royal Mail stamp; as civic plaques all over Wales, England and Scotland; as a semi-circular backdrop to the Peace Fountain carved in York stone at the Peace Garden in Sheffield; at Dylife north of Machynlleth on a memorial to the late Wyndford Vaughan Thomas; in Nairobi at the Architectural Association of Kenya; on banners flying above Cardiff Castle during the biennial Singer of the World competition; and - "practically everywhere in America" - including the Folger Shakespeare library in Washington DC and the St Ceritos College in California ... MORE