Coast & Countryside

Follow the Carmarthenshire Craft Trail

The stunning landscape and seascape of Carmarthenshire has long been a magnet for artists and craftspeople. Studios and workshops specialising in pottery, glassware, painting, sculpture and woodcarving can be found all over the county and many open their doors to visitors. Visit potters, sculptors and artists at work in unique surroundings or see it all under one roof at the impressive West Wales Centre for the Crafts at St Clears.

Some traditions can be traced back centuries - the clear fast-flowing waters of the Teifi once powered countless woollen mills, now only a handful remain. Enjoy the diverse craft experiences this county has to offer by following the Carmarthenshire Craft Trail: (Crafts Map »)

The Old Smithy Craft Shop & Heritage Centre, Cenarth.
The Old Smithy is one of the main tourist attractions in the picturesque village of Cenarth. A new gallery showcases the work of local artist Kathryn Harvey. The shop sells hand produced crafts and gifts made in Wales as well as locally made jam, honey, ice cream and chocolates. britinfo.net

The Maker’s Mark, Newcastle Emlyn.
Under the roof of this lovely Georgian building you’ll find the work of more than 70 craftsmen, including original paintings, prints, ceramics, felt, wood, glass and jewellery. The Maker’s Mark prides itself on offering an alternative to high street mass production. themakersmark.co.uk

Curlew Weavers Woollen Mill, Rhydlewis.
This is a family firm specialising in the production of a wide range of woollen fabrics, including tweeds, flannels, dress materials and upholstery fabrics. The whole process from the yarn to the finished article takes place here. The mill also produces travel rugs, tablecloths, ties and made to measure curtains. westwales.co.uk/curlew.htm

Strait Laced, Newcastle Emlyn.
Visit textile artist Vicki Watson at her Welsh long house and view her collection of jackets, corsets, bags, shawls, scarves and wall hangings. She experiments with painting, dyeing, embroidering and manipulating natural fibres to create one off pieces of art to wear.

Moriath Glass, Cwmpengraig
This gallery displays a sparkling selection of kiln-formed studio glass. Vibrant, striking colours are a main feature of the artist’s work, along with the use of colour-refracting dichroic glass in jewellery. moriathglass.co.uk

Diane Mathias, Fine Art Studio, Henllan.
Diane paints atmospheric scenes from around Carmarthenshire and the surrounding countryside in oils and pastels. Her subjects include many of the most tranquil places which, in our busy lives, may be passed by unnoticed. dianemathias.com

Makepeace Cabinetmaking, Pentrecwrt.
Specialists in beautiful hand crafted fitted and free standing furniture including dressers, tables, wardrobes, kitchens and more. All designed and made to your specification. makepeace-furniture.com

Siramik, Alltwallis.
Share in the delight of turning a ball of clay into a beautiful pot you can take home and enjoy! Siramik offers clay workshops at your home or in the community. Guaranteed mess free!

Gwili Pottery, Pontarsais.
Gwili Pottery produces a wide range of hand-thrown, hand-painted earthenware ceramics in both traditional and contemporary designs. Visit the studio, showrooms and the beautiful landscaped gardens which provide inspiration for artists and potters.gwilipottery.com

Ceramics by Jonathan Cox, Peniel.
This is a fascinating display of ceramic art - from the traditional to the strikingly modern; from flowers to 'facepots'. A distinctive feature of the work is the decorative process of tubelining which gives a raised effect to the decoration. jonathancoxceramics.co.uk

Merlin’s Hill Wool Collection, Abergwili.
The Merlin’s Hill collection is made from 100 per cent pure wool from a flock of Jacob sheep that are naturally reared on Merlin’s Hill. The breed’s unusual colourings are the inspiration behind this exquisite collection which includes blankets, scarves and throws. Sheepskin rugs are also available. merlinshill.com

Origin Dyfed, Carmarthen.
This is a craft co-operative with more than 50 maker members drawn from all over the former county of Dyfed. Their gallery in Carmarthen displays a fine selection of ceramics, wood, textiles, papier mache, kiln-formed glass, jewellery and cards, as well as original paintings and prints. origindyfed.co.uk

King Street Gallery, Carmarthen.
The gallery offers a wide range of original and affordable artwork. Among the salient exhibits are large ceramic pieces based on the female form with striking glazes; elegant horse sculptures crafted from porcelain, metal and stone; vibrantly coloured stained glass and beautifully crafted wooden bowls. kingstreetgallery.co.uk

Mellangth Stained Glass, Carmarthen.
Artists at this studio design and produce a wide range of products using the traditional methods of leading and foiling, as well as glass fusing. Just come in and watch as they work or browse in the gallery area. mellangth.co.uk

Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen.
A regional fine and applied art gallery featuring an exciting varying programme of exhibitions. There’s a specialist craft retail area showing the highest quality design-led craft by local and national makers. orielmyrddingallery.co.uk

Neil Richardson Ceramics, Trevaughan.
Neil has a distinctive, unmistakable style using glazes which have been specifically blended to enhance each individual form using both chemical and natural compounds. Neil is both maker and teacher. raku.co.uk

Studio Rosa Danica, Meidrim.
Although typically Welsh from the outside, this cottage deep in rural Carmarthenshire has a Scandinavian feel to it. That’s because its owner, Marianne Thune Maycock, has filled it with Danish furniture and paintings by her grandfather, Axel Johansen, a well-known Danish painter, as well as many of her own works. rosadanica.co.uk

Glyn Coch Craft Centre, Pwll Trap.
Glyn Coch Craft Centre has a long association with the decoration of fine bone china. Techniques are demonstrated and you can have a go. The centre also makes peg dolls in Welsh costume. glyn-coch.com

Laugharne Glass, Laugharne.
Watch glass-blowers skilfully fashion works of art from the molten 'metal' in the glare of the furnaces. Only age-old traditional methods of manufacture are used here. The studio is also a world-renowned originator of fine design in hallmarked silver overlay. laugharneglass.com

Dorothy Morris, Fine Art Silk & Ceramics, Ferryside.
Dorothy is an experienced art teacher, lecturer and practising artist working in a wide range of materials including textiles, ceramics, mixed media and more traditional mediums such as watercolours and acrylics. She draws her inspiration from the environment around her, especially Ferryside her home village. (dorothy morris) talented-art.com

Felingwm Pottery, Felingwm.
Commemorative wares such as 'one offs' to celebrate births, marriage and anniversaries, are the speciality of Felingwm Pottery. They make popular gifts as well as being of interest to collectors and local historians. felingwmpottery.co.uk

Waun Hir Pottery, Llandeilo.
Storage jars, casseroles and lemon squeezers are just some of the tried and tested range of Nick Membery’s kitchen pottery made with the cook in mind. All pots are individually hand-made and richly glazed either speckled blue or white with unglazed 'toasted' rims being a feature. kitchen-pottery.co.uk

Crafts Alive, Llandeilo.
The shop provides a selling platform for individual high-quality arts and crafts including wood turning, ceramics, ironwork, soap, textiles and hand-knits, jewellery, glass, natural cosmetics and more. The shop is manned by volunteers. If they don’t have what you want - they can usually put you in touch with someone who can make it. crafts-alive.co.uk