Megan Vest

BA (Hons) Illustration

Image and text holds a significant value to my practice as an illustrator. Interpreting pre-existing narrative through my own visual language revives an appreciation for this relationship, as well as reanimating these texts. It is vital that we continue to acknowledge our own cultural origins in present day, as we have a responsibility to pass this onto the next generation. As an illustrator, I focus on communicating this importance by pairing linguistics and language with illustrations, specifically Welsh folklore and our familiar storytelling origins as a nation. This has provoked a sense of nostalgia for age-old tales.

My work studies the creation and endeavour of Blodeuwedd, a symbolic character within the fourth Branch of the ‘Mabinogi’, tales embedded in early Welsh literature. I have returned to Welsh roots to explore how this mythology connects to reality and the way it still shapes us today. Underlying truths and empathy are embedded within my illustrations as they reveal a deep internal monologue that resonates with us and our morality. Blodeuwedd’s story may appear majestic, but it eventually reminds us of our vulnerability as humans intertwined with our surroundings and submissive to nature, after all.

Traditional materials coat the page to capture a current presence in a tale that has been lived before our time. Delicate brush strokes and earthy tones compliment centuries worth of nature, and appreciates the female character’s aura as she turns her timeless beauty into passion, emotion and sensation for us viewers.


Mae delwedd a thestun yn werthfawr iawn i’m hymarfer fel darlunydd. Mae dehongli naratif sy’n bodoli eisoes drwy fy iaith weledol fy hun yn adfywio gwerthfawrogiad o’r berthynas hon, yn ogystal ag ail-animeiddio’r testunau hyn. Mae’n hanfodol ein bod ni’n parhau i gydnabod ein gwreiddiau diwylliannol ein hunain yn y presennol, gan fod gennym ni gyfrifoldeb i drosglwyddo hyn i’r genhedlaeth nesaf. Fel darlunydd, rwy’n canolbwyntio ar gyfleu’r pwysigrwydd hwn drwy baru ieithyddiaeth ac iaith â darluniau, yn benodol llên gwerin Cymru a’n gwreiddiau hel straeon cyfarwydd fel cenedl. Mae hyn wedi ysgogi ymdeimlad o hiraeth am straeon hynafol.

Mae fy ngwaith yn astudio creadigaeth ac ymdrech Blodeuwedd, cymeriad symbolaidd ym mhedwaredd Gainc y ‘Mabinogi’, straeon sydd wedi’u gwreiddio mewn llenyddiaeth Gymraeg gynnar. Rydw i wedi dychwelyd i wreiddiau Cymreig i archwilio sut mae’r fytholeg hon yn cysylltu â realiti a’r ffordd y mae’n dal i’n siapio ni heddiw. Mae gwirioneddau ac empathi sylfaenol wedi’u hymwreiddio yn fy narluniau wrth iddynt ddatgelu monolog mewnol dwfn sy’n atseinio gyda ni a’n moesoldeb. Efallai bod stori Blodeuwedd yn ymddangos yn fawreddog, ond yn y pen draw mae’n ein hatgoffa o’n bregusrwydd fel bodau dynol sydd wedi’n cydblethu â’r byd o’n cwmpas ac yn ymostyngol i natur, wedi’r cyfan.

Mae deunyddiau traddodiadol yn gorchuddio’r dudalen i gyfleu presenoldeb presennol mewn stori sydd wedi cael ei byw cyn ein hamser ni. Mae brwsio cain a lliwiau’r pridd yn cyd-fynd â gwerth canrifoedd o natur, ac yn gwerthfawrogi rhin y cymeriad benywaidd wrth iddi droi ei harddwch tragwyddol yn angerdd, emosiwn a theimlad i ni’r gwylwyr.


• https://manatee-sunflower-xjsl.squarespace.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/meganvest.illustration/

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