AN ARTIST who was born in a cottage beside the drowned village of Capel Celyn is set to represent her region’s history and culture at Wales’ biggest festival this summer.

Heulwen Wright, from Bala, was researching for an exhibition at Chirk Castle when she became fascinated at how the historic building’s 17th century owner, Sir Thomas Myddelton, contributed to one of the first translations of the Bible into Welsh.

She discovered how Sir Myddelton, son of Richard Myddelton, the governor of Denbigh, financed the publication of Y Beibl Bach, ‘The Little Bible’, in 1630. This was at a time when most of the Welsh population was illiterate, and copies of Y Beibl Bach gave them the written word for the first time.

The 46-year-old was raised near the Capel Celyn reservoir, where homes, a post office, church and graveyard stood until they were flooded by the UK Government in 1965 to supply water to the city of Liverpool. It was a controversial decision that resulted in protests on the streets of Liverpool and a revival of Welsh nationalism.

And Mrs Wright was studying an earlier Welsh rebellion that came with Y Beibl Bach. The translation preached nonconformist teachings that were opposed by the Church of England, and contributed to later efforts by the 18th century Bala clergymen Thomas Charles to bring about a Welsh social movement.

Mrs Wright, mum-of-two, was studying for her applied arts degree at Glyndŵr University and decided that Sir Myddelton’s role in the region’s history ought be brought to light.

She went about making a copper and glass reproduction of Y Beibl Bach, etched with acid to include signatures from the Welsh Bible and a 19th century family prayer book.

“This piece instils a sense of mystery and sentimentality and has a ghostly feel to it,” Mrs Wright said. “The subtle signatures symbolise the passing of time and hint at the fragility of life, yet the strength of our history and connection to times past.”

The style has also been applied to a tableware range and she is now concentrating on bathroom washbasins, tiles and splash backs.

But it is her Bible artwork will be on display in an exhibition at Y Lle Celf during the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the annual celebration of the Welsh language and culture, which will be held in Llanrwst from August 3-10.

“It’s exciting and an honour really,” Mrs Wright said.

The festival will include musical performances by leading Welsh artists; stalls with traditional Welsh food; and the chairing of the bards, who make an outstanding contribution to Welsh culture.