Sioned Mair was raised in a creative household, on a farm at the foot of Cefnamwlch mountain in the heart of Pen Llŷn. As a child, art and creation were an integral part of her everyday life. Following a spell of hiraeth while studying illustration in England, she changed the course of her life to pursue a career path as an Art and Technology teacher at a local secondary school. Now, over fifteen years later, she continues to dedicate herself to her role as Assistant Head at the school.
Sioned was inspired to rekindle her creativity in 2016 when her daughter was born. She developed a rare condition called HELLP Syndrome towards the end of her pregnancy, leading to complications during childbirth. Since then, she has viewed her life in a different way, seizing every opportunity to develop herself as a creative practitioner.
Now living in Aberdaron, she continues to balance her career as an artist living at the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula. She established her illustration company, Dylunio Swi, in 2016, and since then, her illustrative work has been seen on brands and community projects throughout Llŷn and north Wales. Her work is often multi-layered and figurative in nature, deeply rooted in Welsh identity, history, tradition, and everyday life in the land of Llŷn.
THE WORK
"My artwork has always been figurative in style, and the medium I use is how I communicate my feelings and thoughts with others. It is something I must do. Words inspire me - poems, songs, and place names - I often weave them into my work almost without realising. I feel a sense of responsibility to capture a snapshot of contemporary life to preserve it for future generations, hoping to spark imagination or ignite interest.
There is no escaping the fact that being Welsh, contemporary issues and my Welsh identity inspire me. The ongoing struggle to exist and justify our existence as a nation. The hiraeth that is an integral part of who we are. The historical role of women as unsung heroes has also captured my attention, reflecting our determination to survive, whatever the challenge.
This work is very raw and is a documentation of my journey in returning to painting.” - Sioned Mair
