Cofiwch Dryweryn

Braint oedd cael fy nghomisiynu i beintio llun Cofiwch Dryweryn fel anrheg penblwydd ym mis Mai 2025. Mi es i ati i astudio ffotograffiau y llun, gan weld bod nifer o fersiynau wahanol o'r wal wedi eu creu dros y blynyddoedd, ac bod yr un gwreiddiol wedi ei fandaleiddio nifer o weithiau. Yn y diwedd penderfynais beintio y llun gwreiddiol gan law Meic Stephens ei hun.

Mwynhaeiais i yn fawr sialens peintio "Cofiwch Dryweryn" am y brif reswm taw neges brotest oedd hi yn erbyn boddi cwm Tryweryn a'r pentref Capel Celyn nôl yn y 1960au.

Roeddwn i am gyfleu y wal enwog, y paent yn tynnu oddiar gerrig y wal. Fel i mi baentio bob llythyren dychmygais Meic Stephens ei hun yn paentio'r llythrennau, y galar a'r dicter ym mhob strôc brwsh.

Er roedd yn sialens paentio gwaith fel hyn, dysgais gymaint am sut i gyfleu paent ar gerrig gyda phaentio cyflym ac anorffenedig, marciau dwfn â brysiau caled.

Gobeithiaf bod fy ymdrech ostyngedig yn mynd rhyw ffordd tuag at gyfleu naws y wal a'r brotest.

Pleser yw clywed bod fy nghomisiynydd yn hapus iawn gyda'r gwaith gorffenedig.

Meuryn Hughes, Mai 2025

Cofiwch Dryweryn - Oil on Canvas - 40.6cm x 40.6cm (16x16 in) © Meuryn Hughes 2025

I was privileged to have been asked to paint a picture of the famous slogan "Cofiwch Dryweryn" as a birthday present in early May.

Having researched the many images of this iconic structure, I opted for the original structure and slogan as the style of the lettering was so unique. I could see the hand of the artist in each letter painted.

I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge to convey the message of the famous statement. Remember Tryweryn, the small village of Capel Celyn and the Tryweryn valley that was drowned in order to supply water to Liverpool in the 1960s.

I wanted to reproduce the famous ruined cottage wall, with the flaking text surrounded by ivy and overgrowth. As I painted each letter of the famous slogan I imagined Meic Stephens, who painted the wall actually painting the slogan.

It was a challenging painting to undertake, but having said that I learned so much about how to create texture and shape with large brushstrokes, leaving paint on the canvas without retouching or finishing. It highlights the desperation that must have been felt by Stephens to have to express his outrage at such an act of cultural vandalism.

Cofwich Dryweryn was a protest against the decision to flood the Tryweryn Valley to create a reservoir, which destroyed the village of Capel Celyn. Stephens himself considered it his most important act.

I hope that my humble effort goes some way to celebrate this colossal Welsh act of protest.

The work was completed at the end of April 2025 and the commissioner is thrilled with the final work. Meuryn Hughes May 2025.