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Welsh celebrity photo exhibition

Portraits of the First Minister of Wales Rhodri Morgan AM, weather presenter and TV personality Sian Lloyd and soccer legend Ryan Giggs go on display at National Museum Cardiff on Tuesday 13 November.

The annual National Photographic Portrait Commission (led by Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery) is a competition that showcases the work of the most talented emerging young photographers in Wales. 

 

This year’s winning images join portraits of the Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams, author Sarah Waters, television producer and Dr Who scriptwriter Russell T. Davies and harpist Catrin Finch from the 2005 and 2006 commissions in the national photography collection.

 

The three successful young photographers, whose work was described as ‘high quality’ and ‘inspiring’ by the commissioning panel, worked in striking and surprising settings. Each photograph tells a strong personal story about of the sitter.

 

First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM’s portrait was shot at Cardiff Bus depot, as this location refers to free bus passes for the elderly, one of the key WAG policies of recent years. Sian Lloyd chose to be photographed at one of her favourite locations in Wales – Snowdonia. Giggs’s portrait was taken at Carrington, Manchester United’s training centre, on the day the star signed a further year’s contract with his boyhood club.

 

Beth McIntyre, Curator of Prints & Drawings at Amgueddfa Cymru said:

 

“Amgueddfa Cymru is delighted by these striking images. We had a wonderful response from recently graduated photographers this year and are thrilled with the results. The photographs are a welcome addition to our collection and are sure to be extremely popular with all our visitors. The commission just goes from strength to strength.”

 

Copies of the images will also enter the collections at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

 

National Museum Cardiff is one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’s seven national museums. The others are St Fagans: National History Museum, the National Roman Legionary Museum, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, the National Wool Museum, the National Slate Museum and the National Waterfront Museum.

 

Entry to each Museum is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. 

 

Ends 

Notes to Editors

 

The photographers

Huw Davies

 

Huw Davies grew up in Carmarthenshire. He graduated from Coleg Sir Gâr in 2006 and was AOP Student Photographer of the Year. He chose Cardiff Bus depot as the location for this portrait, referencing one of Morgan’s key policies: the introduction of free bus passes to people over 65 and those with disabilities. The image is an exploration on the concept of journey and time.

 

Anastasia Taylor-Lind

 

Since graduating from the University of Wales, Newport in 2004, Anastasia Taylor-Lind’s work has appeared in national newspapers and magazines such as the Guardian, the Sunday Times and Marie Claire. She photographed Giggs at the Manchester United training ground on the day he signed a further contract with the club.

 

Amelia Kilvington

 

Amelia Kilvington gained an English degree before graduating from the West Wales School of Arts, Carmarthen in 2006. Her work explores the interactions between visual image and written text. Sian Lloyd chose to be photographed in Snowdonia.

For further information please contact

Sian James, Corporate Communications Officer

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales

(029) 2057 3175 / 07812 801356

Sian.james@museumwales.ac.uk