Painting – 2019 onwards

Blodeuwedd, The Woman made of Flowers

This series of four prints references the dark and magical story of Blodeuwedd, the woman made out of flowers, as told in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi.

The Mabinogi is a collection of Welsh tales and myths, written down by monks in the early medieval period, but originating much earlier,

In brief, the story goes that Prince Lleu was cursed by his mother so he could never have a human bride. His uncle Gwydion, a powerful magician, created a wife for his nephew, made from flowers. They married, and at first all was well, until Blodeuwedd fell in love with another man, Gronw. They plotted to kill Lleu with a poisoned spear. However he did not die, but transformed into a very sick eagle. Eventually he was changed back into his own shape, and healed by Gwydion. He then killed Gronw by throwing a spear right through a standing stone, which can be found on the bank of the River Cynfael in North Wales. Gwydion punished Blodeuwedd for her crime by turning her into an owl.