'Y Rhew Yn Disgyn' - (The Ice Descends)

In early January 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Iceland, staying with photographer and freelance artist, Lilja (@_liljajons on Instagram)—miss you!

Iceland, with its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and captivating folklore, inspired me deeply. During my time there, I was inspired to explore these elements in my own work, merging aspects of classic Icelandic folklore with Welsh stories and culture, as the two share many intriguing similarities.

My Welsh heritage plays a significant role in my artistic practice. I believe the beauty, creativity, and fascinating stories of Wales are often overlooked. During my time in Iceland, many people were curious about my home country and its tales, which further inspired me to weave these narratives into my creative process.

One of the most intriguing parallels between Nordic and Welsh folklore is their shared belief in magical creatures, such as trolls, fairies, and elves.

In December 2023, a volcano erupted in Grindavik, Iceland, forcing the town’s evacuation. On my flight back, I witnessed the eruption from the sky—devastating yet incredibly beautiful. The sight of the volcano made me reflect on the helplessness humans and creatures face as a result of natural disasters.

Drawing inspiration from this eruption and the folklore creatures that captivated me, I created a fictional story about three Icelandic trolls fleeing the volcanic devastation and migrating to Wales.

Wales is steeped in mythological tales, with the Welsh Dragon being one of the most iconic symbols, proudly displayed on our flag. In my story, the trolls follow an ancient prophecy that directs them to find a dragon who will help them find a new home; So, they journey to Wales, where dragons are said to dwell.

Upon their arrival, they find the dragon, but he is unable to help them. He explains that modern humans are too greedy, and if they were to encounter him, they would likely exploit him for profit or place him in a museum, overlooking his immense beauty and power. Instead, the dragon advises the trolls to seek the Skirrid Witch, who resides on the Skirrid Mountain in South Wales.

I have always been enchanted by the Skirrid Mountain and its connection to local folklore. As a child, I believed fairies lived there, with a witch ruling over the mountain. To honour this childhood fantasy, I created a story in which the Skirrid Witch serves as the gatekeeper to a magical realm hidden inside the hill—a sanctuary for magical creatures, shielded from humans.

For this project, I took a more hands-on approach, creating movable stop-motion dolls and characters made from found materials and scrap resources. I combined photography, digital drawing, and physical prop-making to bring the story to life.

Each element of the project was crafted entirely from recycled materials and repurposed childhood toys. I shot individual frames of the trolls in stop-motion style in front of a greenscreen, which allowed me to place them within scenic photographic and video backdrops I had captured in Iceland and Wales. I used Premiere Pro for editing and animation, as well as Procreate to animate the trolls' expressions and add additional details and characters to my reference images.

This project has been both deeply enjoyable and personally significant. It has allowed me to explore new artistic avenues, while also deepening my understanding of both Iceland’s captivating beauty and culture, and my own Welsh heritage and folklore.

I’m eager to expand this work into larger-scale sculptures and characters, exploring new ways to exhibit the story and bring it to life in different forms.