HAVING recently relocated back to Wales from north Yorkshire where she became known as ‘that barn painter,’ artist Sue Dewhurst has been busy exploring the agricultural heritage of Ceredigion, noting both its similarities and differences to the Yorkshire Dales.

“I’m loving the Dutch Barns, Welsh pigs and lack of drystone walls, which were time consuming to paint!” said Sue, whose latest exhibition, ‘Rural Lives’, will be held at Llandysul's Pwerdy Powerhouse later this month.

“I’ve also been surprised and extremely grateful for the welcome from the farming community who have supported me in my research and gone a long way to make this exhibition happen.”

When Sue arrived last May a warm welcome came in the form of Teifi Evans who popped by to meet Sue and her family after they had moved into Maesllyn.

As Teifi said: “A lot can happen over a cup of tea and slice of cake” because he invited Sue to come along to his farm and make studies of his livestock as part of her research.

He taught her about the long line of Welsh pigs he and his family have bred for years and about the cattle he breeds too.

Soon other farmers became interested in what Sue was attempting and neighbour and friend Norman Smart invited her to the cattle auction in Newcastle Emlyn.

Agricultural consultant Anna Bowen has also helped with technical knowledge and been a wealth of support too.

Sue is keen to explore rural life. “Part of why I paint the images I do is to highlight the need to support local small scale farming,” she said.

“If we want the countryside to remain a viable, thriving and beautiful landscape we all have to do our bit.

“I hope in some small way my work makes people aware of the need to support local farming, be that buying sustainable organic meat, going to farmers’ markets, or eating more locally-produced seasonal produce - I think we can all play our part.”