TWO alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s esteemed Drawing Year programme will be invited to take up a two-week self-directed residency at Gwrych Castle.
This will take place between September 9 and September 23.
Gwrych Castle, a Grade I listed country house near Abergele, was built between 1812 and 1822 and is one of the first attempts at replicating true medieval architecture in Europe.
The castle stands in 250 acres of gardens and grounds and has extensive views over former parkland including a deer park and the Irish Sea.
The residency opportunity offers the two artists accommodation and use of a shared studio space for two weeks.
Fraser Scarfe, Head of Drawing Year, said: “The Royal Drawing School are delighted to be working with Gwrych Castle in bringing this amazing residency to our Drawing Year alumni.
"Artists’ residencies offer a unique and special opportunity to respond to a specific location, allowing artists to develop their work in profound and interesting ways away from their usual studio practice.
"Gwrych Castle will offer our alumni a visually and intellectually rich landscape to draw from.”
For the first week artists will stay in Ty Crwn, a historic beach house beneath Gwrych Castle. For the second week, artists will stay in the castle's Tan-yr-Ogo Lodge, originally the principal and ceremonial entrance to the Gwrych Estate.
The artists in residence will be encouraged to work on their own self-directed practice and take inspiration from their surrounding location.
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The artists will also be invited to host an open studio for the final weekend of the residency at the castle, which hosted ITV's I'm A Celebrity in 2020 and 2021.
Dr Mark Baker, chairperson of Gwrych Castle, said: "Through the Royal Drawing School residency program at Gwrych Castle, we aim to provide artists with an immersive experience, steeped in history and natural beauty, to inspire their creativity and foster artistic growth.
"We look forward to welcoming the alumni to the castle and North Wales."
The Gwrych residency is only open to alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate programme, The Drawing Year.
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