Artist’s exhibition showcases the beauty of the Rhymney Valley

An exhibition highlighting the beauty of the Rhymney Valley is on display at the Winding House in New Tredegar. 

Neil Carroll’s exhibition, Homelands, will be running until May 27 and is free to attend.

Neil, 65, was born and raised in Rhymney and his paintings capture Butetown, Bedwellty and Newtown in a “positive light”. 

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer about his work, Neil said: “I hope it’ll encourage everyone who views it to see the surrounding area afresh.” 

This is the case for Neil who returned to Caerphilly recently after living in Monmouth.

“When you go away and come back, you see it with a fresh eye,” Neil said about the landscape that has always inspired him, “it is fantastic.” 

The exhibition is also personal in another way as the paintings were created in memory of his late father, who was “a Rhymney man”.

“My dad was always a great supporter of me,” said Neil, “he would have been delighted.”

The show has 80 paintings that highlight the landscape and area as he sees and feels it. 

Neil trained at Newport School of Art and the University of Wales, Cardiff and has also shown work in Newport and Brittany.

This is the second time he has shown work close to his hometown – the first being back as a schoolboy when he won a prize for his abstract painting.

Neil’s current event has received high praise after 60 people attended an open day on May 13 – including politicians Gerald Jones MP and Dawn Bowden MS. 

“It was a great event, said Neil, “I was walking on air.”

He hopes that there will be an opportunity to exhibit the show somewhere else, in or outside of Wales. 

“It would stand up and represent us well,” he added, “who knows where it might lead in the future.”

Homelands is showing at the Winding House, New Tredegar, until May 27.