First published in Welsh Country Magazine, March-April 2014
In love, and in honour of a loved one lost, who was a rugby player, a great countryman, and a gentleman of his generation, who picked up a lost soul and gave him guidance when he most needed it. Our times were often too brief to exchange many words, yet the experiences were life affirming and positive – a reinforcement of what should be over what was…
My stepfather always loved the coast, particularly the harshness of winter’s bite in Lincolnshire. He was a farmer and avid birdwatcher, and raised me to respect and love the land in which we spend an all too brief existence. To deal with my grief at his loss, I set out to photograph the coast of the UK. Thus began my journey in 2007, one which led me to a place to finally call home.
At the time, I was in Leicester, working with 17-21 year olds who had taken a wrong turn in life, hoping perhaps that I might be able to help, but my time away had always been precious and each break – weekends and holidays found me on the road – exploring new places I had not yet been.
Having covered much of England and Scotland in my photographic travels, I turned to Wales for further inspiration, working steadily from south to north.
On these trips, I had seen many wonderful areas and places to look at for my eventual retirement, but found myself looking at one photograph I had taken, very deeply – it showed a long track, past some lakes, and at the end of it I had found a wall, buttressed strongly, next to an oak tree. I had sat at its base, kicked the grass, and exposed a quarry tile floor, and then the imagination kicked in. A what if, what if I gave up the day job and moved somewhere, to an old house, did it up, and opened a gallery?
I broached the question with my wife, Sue, an artist in oils in her own right, told her the story and the dream, at which point words I will always remember – “I’m not moving anywhere without a roof on it” – to which my reply – “So we can move then?”
I had loved my first north Wales foray, from Talacre to Porthmadog, and the next trip brought me into the mountains, just for a change. I became captivated. Sue and I looked at houses online – and decided to go view a couple. The second had potential – moreover, it had a roof! I didn’t go in the house, but just sat on a rock next to a stream which runs through the yard outside, watching the light change. Sue liked the house, I liked the outbuildings and we discussed the business potential and how we might achieve it on the way home. At work, and with family, things were changing. My mother passed and we decided to come for a second viewing. Before we left, we agreed to buy.
Here we are in 2014 and we are finally in the house, having been here a year, rebuilding. The gallery and studio, Oriel Hafod Ruffydd, is open and we are only too happy to see folk who wish to share the beauty I saw from that rock. You can find us in Beddgelert Forest, halfway along the Lon Gwyrfai path between Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu, in the shadow of Moel Hebog.
Graeme Pettit Shop @ fineartamerica.com/profiles/graeme-pettit
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