A Child's Christmas in Wales
Swansea
Artist John Upton Brings Dylan Thomas' Childhood Home to Life in New
Illustrated Edition of A Child’s Christmas in Wales
“I will be the proudest man in Swansea when I open my first box of books from Y Lolfa,” said Upton. “All those hours of painting and all those years of wondering if anything would come of my efforts will culminate in what I hope will become a well-loved little treasure in lots of Welsh homes.”
Upton’s
meticulous research ensured that the illustrations reflect the time and place
of Thomas’ childhood. His paintings of 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, where the poet spent
his early years, capture not only the house’s architectural details but also
the period furnishings, toys, and clothing that would have been part of Thomas'
world in the early 20th century. Upton even visited the house in person to
recreate its surroundings with as much authenticity as possible.
The
project, which began in 1995 with a single illustration on a Christmas card,
grew into a collection of 26 paintings over the years, with Upton finding
renewed inspiration during the 2020 lockdown. The resulting work offers a
unique glimpse into the places that shaped one of Wales’ greatest literary
figures.
“This
publication will mark a very proud moment for me,” Upton added. “Dylan was born
and spent his childhood years in what was a very middle-class area of Swansea
known as The Uplands. His home on the hill overlooked the working-class area
below, known as The Sandfields, which is where I was brought up, close to
Swansea’s Vetch football ground.”
"I
was always in awe of Dylan’s skill with words and his wit. He was undoubtedly a
truly unique wordsmith, and I was unsure that I was worthy of pairing my images
with his words. But I have always thought of my paintings as storytelling in
paint, and I realised this was just a case of two people telling the same story
in their chosen media. I was determined to respect Dylan’s words, so I decided
to throw my hat in the ring! A Swansea artist illustrating a Swansea poet,
featuring authentic Swansea locations—it sounded perfect to me.”
Adding further excitement to this publication, the release
of Upton’s illustrated edition will also include a new Welsh adaptation of A
Child’s Christmas in Wales by award-winning author Meleri Wyn James, a
member of Dylan Thomas' family. The new edition has already garnered praise,
with actor Matthew Rhys describing it as “Magical memories of a child’s
Christmas to remind the reader of their own festive fun.”
Book Launch
Both newly
illustrated books - A Child’s Christmas in Wales and Nadolig
Plentyn yng Nghymru will be launched together at Cover to Cover bookshop,
on Saturday 26 October at 11am.
About Dylan Thomas
Swansea-born Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) remains one of Wales’ most celebrated
poets, known for his lyrical language and rich imagination. His short story A
Child’s Christmas in Wales is a holiday favourite that captures the magic
of childhood Christmases in a small Welsh town. He is often considered the best
poet Wales has ever produced, and is certainly one of Britain's most loved
writers
About John Upton S
Swansea-born illustrator John Upton studied at Swansea Art School and Cardiff Art
School. He taught Art for 20 years in comprehensive schools and managing
Creative Arts Departments (Art, Music and Drama) and then worked for 15 years
as Education Officer at Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. He has also worked
in ceramics and as a greetings card designer. He always tries to inject a
little humour into his artwork and, since retirement, has enjoyed painting what
he wants, when he wants and how he wants! His 26 illustrations for A Child’s
Christmas in Wales mark the culmination of a 29-year journey, showcasing
his detailed portrayal of Swansea locations, especially Dylan Thomas' childhood
home.
About Meleri Wyn James
Meleri Wyn James is a a family member of Dylan Thomas and an award-winning
Welsh author, recognized for her contributions to children’s and adult’s literature.
She published her first book, Mwydyn yn yr Afal, after winning the Urdd
Eisteddfod Literature Medal in 2001. Her first novel, Catrin Jones yn Unig,
reached the Gomer Press Novel 2000 short list. Her novel St@fell for young
people was also shortlisted for the Tir na n-Og Award and was adapted into a
stage show by the Fran Wen company. Meleri is of course the author of the
popular series Na, Nel! for primary age children which is now also a stage
show. Meleri won the Prose Medal at the 2023 National Eisteddfod for her novel Hallt.
Meleri now lives in Aberystwyth with her husband Sion Ilar, and her daughters,
Mia and Esther.
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