AN ANGLESEY artist has used charcoal and oil paintings to portray the land and shape of the island where he grew up.

Darren Hughes’s latest exhibition Native Places approaches the landscape with contemporary realism and honesty with mixed media drawings and drypoint etching prints that feature Bethesda, Pentraeth and the Irish Sea.

“The starting point for the whole body of work was a reassessment of my practice around three years ago,” said Mr Hughes, who lives in Bethesda. “It made complete sense to return to basics and to use drawing as my main focus.

“The images are grounded in observation, reflecting upon the energy and atmosphere of the places and certain memories. Photography has played a small part in exploring these ideas and I find I respond to photography’s stillness – that moment captured in time; of the world, but separate.

“It is this feeling that also permeates some of the locations used within the images. So this new work is a beginning, not only in terms of exploring a new type of landscape, but also in terms of approaching my practice and use of processes and materials.”

The exhibition is on display at Storiel, in Bangor, which houses a collection that was first formed in 1884 by the University of Bangor including a Roman Segontium sword, the Welsh Not and the King of Bardsey's crown. The gallery also hosts exhibitions of the work of local and international artists.

Delyth Gwawr Williams, visual arts officer, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to launch our spring exhibitions here at Storiel by showcasing this fantastic new work by Darren Hughes.

“From large and small oil paintings to large striking charcoal images, this exhibition is wonderful.”

Book before visiting Storiel via www.storiel.cymru or call 01248 353 368 during the opening hours of 11am to 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday.