Exhibition: Tin Works

The Steel Company of Wales Ltd was formed in 1947 and construction began on Trostre Works in Llanelli. The first rolled tinplate came off the line at Trostre Tin Works in October 1951. In the 1800s Llanelli became the centre of the world’s tinplate industry and was known as ‘Tinopolis.’ Trostre Works continued that lineage, manufacturing approximately 400,000 tonnes of tin, chrome and polymer coated steels for the packaging industries every year.

Artist Hilary Powell has worked on site photographing both the Works via tin can pinhole photography and the people that keep it going using the tinplate to create these portraits.  This work was prompted by the artist’s family lineage of Welsh tin workers and continues her fascination with metals and materials and the reinvigoration of historic techniques. More about this and other projects at www.hilarypowell.site

With thanks to

Peter O'Donnell, Ffotogallery, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, Colwinston Trust and Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers