Name:
Mikey Jones

Current Location:
Wrexham

Favourite place, and why?
Bristol – student days were fun with great people and lots of interesting things happening down there in the arts and Music scenes.

Favourite Reindeer?
Dasher

Describe your self in 5 words.
Odd, fun, determined, sensitive and optimistic.

What is your current practice and what have you been up to?
I have been painting and exhibiting my Wales in Colour series and doing some commissions of the local area. Recently I produced the outline for the Reimagine Wrexham boards for Wrexfest which can now be seen in the Old Burtons on the Hight Street. I’ve done a few art give-away’s recently and made some Calendars of the Wales in Colour series and there’s still a few left.

How long have you been a practising Artist for?
4 years

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a Artist?
When my University tutor said ‘Mikey I think your more of an artist than a Architect’, this obvious hit me hard at first.

If you could buy your 10 year old self anything for Christmas what would it be?
Oil paints

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this Christmas?
Lots of mulled wine

Have you got plans new year?
I’m off to Jerusalem in February for 11 days to commence my new series ‘Jerusalem in Colour’ which I can’t wait to get stuck in to as I’ve been planning it for months now. Also got a couple of Wales in Colour exhibitions lined up in Llandudno in April, a special one in the Norwegian Art Centre in Cardiff Bay in July and not to forget I will be exhibiting Wales in Colour in the Botanical Garden of Wales Gallery. I also have plans for another Bristol Exhibition later in the year but it’s all under wraps at the moment

If you would like to contact Mikey Jones or keep updated with the rest of his work please feel free to follow him on, Facebook, Twitter or  his website www.mikeyjonesart.com

Currently Mikey is selling a limited number of Wales in Colour calendars!

The post 12 Days of Artists: Mikey Jones appeared first on This Project.

For our third day for the count down towards Christmas and Undegun closing for 2015, we have recent Glyndwr graduate Sarah Hoare! Here at THIS Project we are huge fans of her work and thought she would be a great addition towards the list of artists that we believe that you need to know about if you live in Wales.

Name:
Sarah Hoare

Current Location:
Brymbo, Wrexham

Favourite place, and why? 
Anywhere outside.  I love walking and exploring to find inspiration in nature, architecture, people and places.

Favourite Reindeer? 
Blitzen, it means lightning and that’s exciting!

Describe your self in 5 words.
Metalsmith, designer, nature-lover, mum and wife

What is your current practice and what have you been up to?
I am a designer/maker specialising in producing wearable sculptures in a variety of metals. I am currently Artist In Residence for jewellery/metalwork at The North Wales School of Art and Design, this position allows me to continue to develop my practice and explore other areas whilst helping students who are just starting their practises.

How long have you been a practising Artist for? 
I produced jewellery throughout the 3 years I studied at NWSAD. My first commercial range was creating jewellery from children’s drawings, this is a range that I have continued to produce as made to order products (facebook @birdandmonkey).

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a Artist?
From a young age I have loved making items for people to wear or display.  Im sure all my 7 year old friends loved their friendship bracelets and pebbles painted like hedgehogs!

If you could buy your 10 year old self anything for Christmas what would it be?
That’s an easy one, I would buy 10 year old me a stone tumbler. I loved to collect pebbles from the beach and had many ice cream tubs full of them, I always wanted them to be shiny and I suspect this is where my love of jewellery making came from!

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this Christmas?
I love Christmas, its my favourite season. This year I am looking forward to watching my toddler open his presents and probably playing with the packaging more than the toys, and of course lots and lots of chocolate!

Have you got any plans for the New Year?
I am going to be working on expanding my jewellery range into larger free-standing pieces and of course constantly seeking inspiration for new projects and ranges.

If you could get anything for Christmas this year what would it be?
I still haven’t got a stone tumbler!!

If you would like to see more of Sarah’s work please feel free to visit her on:

Twitter @sarahhjewellery
Instagram sarah_hoare_jewellery
Facebook @sarahhoarejewellery

The post 12 days of artists: Sarah Hoare appeared first on This Project.

Name: Liam Stokes-Massey   

Current Location?
Undegun, Wrexham

Favourite Reindeer?:
Comet. Because that is one badass name.

Describe your self in 5 words:
Relaxed, Critical, Focused, Unfocused, Inconsistent

Favourite place, and why?:
I have many favourite places. I’ve just about settled into my studio and nearly got it feeling as comfortable as possible, so that’s certainly one. I go to local coffee shops to paint regularly as I really enjoy the vibrant atmospheres and talking to people.

But my favourite place of all places in the world has to be Iceland. I went on holiday earlier this year and fell in love. The mountains, the waterfalls, the people, the green expanses were the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. I hope to go back next year.

What is your current practice and what have you been up to?:
Currently I’m a pencil portrait artist primarily but have recently been exploring watercolour painting. I am colourblind so this has proved, er, ‘interesting’ at times but am slowly getting to grips with it and enjoying myself very much. I like to make little ‘pop culture’ and personal paintings which have proved very popular indeed with my customers.

How long have you been a practising Artist for?:
After a long hiatus (since school), I’ve been drawing properly for around 2-3 years.

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a Artist?:
My last job was working in a bank. I think some people who know me well might have raised an eyebrow when I got the job because it certainly isn’t ‘me’. After just over a year I decided to stop ignoring my gut and leave to become Self-Employed as an Artist. Mental.

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this Christmas?
I’m spending it with my girlfriend and her family, so that’ll be really lovely. Spending time with my family too, of course! Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a Massey clan kneesup!

Have you got any plans for the New Year?:
In the New Year I hope to take part in a couple of exhibitions – something I’ve never done before which is quite exciting! So I’ll be putting a lot of thought into original pieces to contribute. I hope to practice painting a lot more too! The beauty of being in this line of work is that the possibilities are truly endless. And that is really, really exciting.

If you could buy your 10 year old self anything for Christmas what would it be?
My 10 year old self had everything he could have ever wanted, so nothing! (Thanks Mum x)

If you could get anything for Christmas this year what would it be?:
My girlfriend has really knocked it out of the park with my presents this year. One in particular is probably the answer to this question, so she’s nailed it.

For more information about Liam or to contact him please feel free to follow these sites
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/liamstokesmasseypencilportraitartist
Instagram: @pencilcraftsman

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