{"id":37785,"date":"2017-11-27T13:26:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T13:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=37785"},"modified":"2017-11-27T14:03:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-27T14:03:58","slug":"cardiff-character-rhiannon-roberts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/culture\/cardiff-character-rhiannon-roberts","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff Character: Rhiannon Roberts"},"content":{"rendered":"

From studying the mind to painting in watercolours, a local artist reveals how a colourful path led her to design a Snowdog<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Rhiannon painting a mini version of Enfys in her Cardiff Bay studio<\/p><\/div>\n

Local painter Rhiannon Roberts originally comes from West Wales but made the move to Cardiff five years ago where she developed her quirky and happy style. <\/span><\/p>\n

After growing up in what she describes as a colourful harbour town and recently designing a Snowdog called Enfys, whose name translates to rainbow in Welsh, it is clear to see how colour has always been a huge part of the 28-year-old artist\u2019s life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Snowdogs<\/em> are 1.5m tall dog sculptures designed by 43 different artists for the <\/span>Snowdogs Tails in Wales<\/span><\/i><\/a> (<\/span>STW<\/span><\/i>) free public art trail. Rhiannon\u2019s design was selected and sponsored by the Glee Club comedy company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Transition from psychology to art<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even though her Mum painted with her from a young age, art was not the initial route Rhiannon pursued.<\/span><\/p>\n

She headed to Cardiff University at the age of 18 to study psychology. Despite this she says ever since she was little she knew she wanted to be an artist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did art at A level and thought I should do something more serious at university which looking back, you know, art can be serious too,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was fascinated by how the mind worked but after discovering the scientific side of psychology she soon realised it wasn\u2019t for her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people still to this day think they can see the psychology in my work,\u201d she added, \u201cso I don\u2019t know whether it is coming out without me knowing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind her craft<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although she did not continue with psychology Rhiannon remained in Cardiff where the city\u2019s dynamic buildings inspired her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rhiannon loves spending time in her colourful studio<\/p><\/div>\n

While buildings have inspired her paintings, Rhiannon recalls one particular artist who had a major influence on her work.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first artist who inspired me was actually a local artist called Dorian Spencer Davies<\/a>,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Welsh Artist captures everything from harbours and coasts to castles in his distinct colour palette. He also designed Snow Dragon<\/i>, a Snowdog based on the Welsh Dragon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first saw his placemats and coasters when I was a teenager and I bought some for my Mum,” she added,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI think that\u2019s where my love started.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Rhiannon claims the people around her
\n<\/strong>are her greatest inspiration”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, Rhiannon claims the people around her are her greatest inspiration.<\/p>\n

While Enfys means rainbow in Welsh, which Rhiannon thought was the \u201cperfect name\u201d for her Snowdog because of the colour in her work, she explained: \u201cEnfys is also my sister\u2019s name so it meant a lot to call her Enfys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Colourful future<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It appears there is a colourful future ahead for Rhiannon as she smiles at how happy she is. Her only immediate goal is to push her website<\/a> where she sells her pieces in original forms such as coasters, calendars and phone cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI did want to open my own gallery. I think if I settle down and have kids that would be something to think about then.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t plan on doing anything else for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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