Standing Stones and Living Echoes: Art Celebrating the Return of the Eisteddfod to Cardigan at Canfas Gallery
Exhibition: Standing Stones and Living Echoes
Artists: Gillian McDonald (painting) & Nicola Beattie (sculpture)
Venue: Oriel Canfas, Manchester Hill, Cardigan SA43 1HY
Dates: 31 March – 25 April 2026
Drinks reception & Meet the Artists: Saturday 11 April, 13:00-15:00pm
As spring unfurls across West Wales, Cardigan and Oriel Canfas are preparing to celebrate the long- awaited return of the Eisteddfod- more than 850 years after it was first held at Cardigan Castle.
In the run-up to welcoming the Eisteddfod back to Cardigan later this year, Oriel Canfas Gallery, Sponsor of the 2026 Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Fine Art, presents Standing Stones and Living Echoes, two interwoven exhibitions by painter Gillian McDonald and sculptor Nicola Beattie, whose practices are deeply rooted in the landscapes of West Wales.
Drawing inspiration from Pembrokeshire’s ancient stones—enduring markers of time, imagination, and belonging—the artists explore the land as both memory and material, where surface, light, and texture become languages of endurance and renewal.
This year’s Eisteddfod takes place in Carreg Las, an area named for the striking local bluestone that defines both the region and its creative heritage. It is this same landscape that informs the work of McDonald and Beattie, grounding their art in the elemental dialogue between stone, time, and human touch.
“With the Eisteddfod returning to Cardigan after so many centuries, there’s a strong sense of homecoming,” says James Horan, Director of Oriel Canfas. “These exhibitions grow from the same landscape that shaped our poetry and art, celebrating the land and the spirit that continue to define Cardigan’s creative core.”
Together, McDonald and Beattie’s exhibitions echo the spirit of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, honouring its return to the town where the first Eisteddfod was held. Their work forms a visual counterpart to the songs, poems, and performances that will once again enliven Cardigan—a gathering of voices and visions that reflect the continuing power of Welsh creativity.
Oriel Canfas, at Manchester House, Grosvenor Hill, Cardigan SA43 1HY, welcomes visitors from near and far to experience these conversations between land, history, and imagination. The exhibition runs from 31 March to 25 April 2026, with a convivial spring drinks reception on Saturday 11 April, 1–3pm, offering an opportunity for the community to meet the artists, reconnect, and celebrate this historic year for Cardigan.
