‘Taffiators’ in exhibition take off

 

Welsh aviation artists - nicknamed ‘The Taffiators’ - are reaching for the skies with an exhibition ‘first’ in Wales.

 

Members of the prestigious Guild of Aviation Artists, they will be displaying their work at a month-long exhibition at the Sunderland Trust’s newly opened Fleets to Flying Boats Visitor Centre in Pembroke Dock. The exhibition is being sponsored by Valero Pembroke Refinery.

 

Pembrokeshire born artist Tim Jenkins, now of Felinfoel, James Field of Pontyberem, John Wynne Hopkins of Llanelli and Ieuan Layton-Matthews of Gowerton will be exhibiting along with three other Guild members.

 

The exhibition opens on Friday 24th August at the Fleets to Flying Boats Centre, the latest initiative of the Sunderland Trust which already operates a centre focusing on the town’s unique connections with flying boats, particularly the famous Short Sunderland.

 

“This is the first time the Guild has been involved in an exhibition in Wales and we are delighted to take up the Sunderland Trust’s invitation,” said Tim Jenkins. “Over 70 paintings will be on view and for sale and they cover all eras of aviation - from the earliest days of flying to the latest jets and there are also several military subjects from campaigns in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Sunderlands, of course, feature prominently.

 

“There is a strong Welsh flavour to the paintings, ranging from pioneers like Horace Watkins of Cardiff, Great War fighter ace Ira Jones of St Clears and his Second World War counterpart, Taffy Higginson, to jets at Brawdy and search and rescue Sea King helicopters.”

 

Alison Kavanagh, of Valero Pembroke Refinery, added: “We are delighted to continue our support of the Sunderland Trust and are thrilled at what they have achieved to date. Valero are very pleased to sponsor this first ever Welsh exhibition by the Guild. I have had a preview of the exhibition and it is very impressive.”

 

*  The exhibition will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays inclusive, 10 am to 4 pm. The Fleets to Flying Boats Centre is at the Fleet Surgeon’s House adjoining the gated entrance to the Royal Dockyard at Pembroke Dock, close to the ferry terminal.

 

 

 

 

Captions:

Artists Ieuan Layton-Matthews and Tim Jenkins (left), of the Guild of Aviation Artists, contemplate where to display the next painting at the Fleets to Flying Boats Centre.

 

 ‘Taffiators’ Ieuan Layton-Matthews, James Field and Tim Jenkins are pictured with Alison Kavanagh of Valero Pembroke Refinery and Sunderland Trust volunteers Malcolm Miles and Alan Davies.

PICTURES: Martin Cavaney Photography.