Professional working artist, Pembrokeshire’s Warren Heaton, will have his paintings exhibited at the Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre this June in an exhibition called Ragna – the link that connects two coastal communities. The series of paintings is a collaborative exhibition telling ths story of a Norwegian vessel wrecked at Aberfelin in 1900 and the dramatic rescue by the villagers of Trefin. 

Warren and his wife, Helen, currently live in the village of Llangwm and Helen she has just finished rowing the Atlantic – they are indeed quite a maritime couple. And, as Warren explains, the sea and its challenges play an important part in their lives.

“My wife and I were living in Trefin when I got to talking about the project with Andy and Richard over a pint at the Ship Inn. We arranged a small re-enactment down at Aberfelin. The villagers all dressed up and posed for me to photograph, for me to paint.  And that’s where it all started,” said Warren who has a gallery and studio in Solva.

He added: “We’re trying to take the exhibition all over Pembrokeshire and eventually to Cardiff and maybe even Norway. So far it’s been to St David’s, Fishguard and obviously Trefin Museum, but to take it to Norway would be amazing, as that is where the Ragna originated from.”

The Ragna Art Exhibition – the Link that Connected Two Coastal Communities by Warren Heaton, supported by interpretation panels by Richard Cotton and sound design by Andy Wheddon features Mari-Anne Maddocks and Eleanor Bennett and can be seen at the Joanna Field Gallery from Wednesday June 3 to Monday 29 June during Box Office Opening hours. For further information visit the Torch Theatre website torchtheatre.co.uk / Box Office: 01646 695267.