Nicola Beattie: Quiet Remains
Overview
Nicola Beattie, Quiet Remains
Rooted in the ancient landscapes of Pembrokeshire, Nicola Beattie’s sculptures speak of endurance and fragility—carved forms that hold the memory of the land.

Nicola Beattie draws inspiration from the enduring presence of Pembrokeshire’s ancient landscapes—its standing stones, ruined castles, and weathered relics where time seems to pause. Through her practice, Nicola explores the dialogue between peace and conflict, endurance and fragility. Her carved forms, at once strong and contemplative, hold the memory of the land: textured surfaces bearing traces of struggle, smooth planes offering moments of calm. Charred archways and lyrical pillars suggest both darkness and refuge, reflecting a balance between human history and natural stillness. Nicola’s sculptures invite a quiet encounter—an immersion into presence, memory, and the timeless beauty of what remains.

Exhibition runs 31 March-25 April

Drinks Reception 11 April 1-3pm

All Welcome

Works
Installation Views
Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

     

STANDING STONES AND LIVING ECHOES:

ART CELEBRATING THE RETURN OF THE EISTEDDFOD TO CARDIGAN AT CANFAS GALLERY

 

Gillian McDonald & Nicola Beattie at Oriel Canfas, Cardigan

Drinks reception & Meet the Artists

Saturday 11 April, 13:00-15:00

Exhibition runs 31 March – 25 April 2026

 

As spring unfurls across West Wales, Cardigan and Oriel Canfas are preparing to celebrate the long-awaited return of the Eisteddfod- more than 850 years after it was first held at Cardigan Castle.

In the run-up to welcoming the Eisteddfod back to Cardigan later this year, Oriel Canfas Gallery, Sponsor of the 2026 Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Fine Art, presents Standing Stones and Living Echoes, two interwoven exhibitions by painter Gillian McDonald and sculptor Nicola Beattie, whose practices are deeply rooted in the landscapes of West Wales. Drawing inspiration from Pembrokeshire’s ancient stones—enduring markers of time, imagination, and belonging—the artists explore the land as both memory and material, where surface, light, and texture become languages of endurance and renewal.

This year’s Eisteddfod takes place in Carreg Las, an area named for the striking local bluestone that defines both the region and its creative heritage. It is this same landscape that informs the work of McDonald and Beattie, grounding their art in the elemental dialogue between stone, time, and human touch.

 “With the Eisteddfod returning to Cardigan after so many centuries, there’s a strong sense of homecoming,” says James Horan, Director of Oriel Canfas. “These exhibitions grow from the same landscape that shaped our poetry and art, celebrating the land and the spirit that continue to define Cardigan’s creative core.”

Together, McDonald and Beattie’s exhibitions echo the spirit of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, honouring its return to the town where the first Eisteddfod was first held. Their work forms a visual counterpart to the songs, poems, and performances that will once again enliven Cardigan—a gathering of voices and visions that reflect the continuing power of Welsh creativity.

Oriel Canfas, at Manchester House, Grosvenor Hill, Cardigan SA43 1HY, welcomes visitors from near and far to experience these conversations between land, history, and imagination. The exhibition runs from 31 March to 25 April 2026, with a convivial spring drinks reception on Saturday 11 April, 1–3pm, offering an opportunity for the community to meet the artists, reconnect, and celebrate this historic year for Cardigan.

 

About Canfas: Canfas Gallery Cardigan is sponsor of the 2026 Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Fine Art.  The gallery was founded in 2019 and has established itself as one of the leading galleries in Wales. It has been featured on BBC One News, S4C, and in National newspapers and magazines. Under new ownership, the gallery aims to collaborate with other galleries and showcase the work of established and emerging Welsh artists, and to bring to West Wales exemplary artwork from other nations. Canfas aims to curate beautiful and powerful art. Art that inspires us to see the world from different angles. Art that explores what it is to be human as well as our relationship with nature. Art that pushes cultural, political, and stylistic boundaries. 

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