The Royal Drawing School have announced an exciting opportunity for two alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s esteemed Drawing Year programme. The two-week self-directed residency, will take place between September 9th and September 23rd 2024 at Gwrych Castle.

Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed country house near Abergele in North Wales. It was built between 1812 and 1822 and is one of the first attempts at replicating true medieval architecture in Europe. The castle stands in 250 acres of gardens and grounds and has extensive views over former parkland including a deer park and the Irish Sea. The residency opportunity offers the two artists accommodation and use of a shared studio space for two weeks at Gwrych Castle.

Artists are provided accommodation within the estate’s extraordinary buildings. For the first week artists will stay in Ty Crwn, a historic beach house beneath the castle and is situated 50 meters from the shoreline, with views over the Irish Sea and Pensarn Beach. For the second week artists will stay in the castle’s Tan-yr-Ogo Lodge, originally the principal and ceremonial entrance to the Gwrych Estate.

The residency is a unique opportunity for two artists to spend two weeks on a self-directed residency within the historic grounds and buildings of Gwrych. The artists in residence are encouraged to work on their own self-directed practice and to be inspired by their surrounding location. As part of the residency the artists will be invited to host an open studio for the final weekend of the residency at the castle.

Fraser Scarfe, Head of Drawing Year says “The Royal Drawing School are delighted to be working with Gwrych Castle in bringing this amazing residency to our Drawing Year alumni. Artists’ residencies offer a unique and special opportunity to respond to a specific location, allowing artists to develop their work in profound and interesting ways away from their usual studio practice. Gwrych Castle will offer our alumni a visually and intellectually rich landscape to draw from.”

Chairperson of Gwrych Castle, Dr.Mark Baker says: “Through the Royal Drawing School residency program at Gwrych Castle, we aim to provide artists with an immersive experience, steeped in history and natural beauty, to inspire their creativity and foster artistic growth. We look forward to welcoming the alumni to the castle and North Wales”.

A link to the residency can be found below:
https://www.royaldrawingschool.org/residencies/wales-gwrych/

The Gwrych residency is only open to alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate
programme, The Drawing Year. If you have any questions regarding the residency, please contact residencies@royaldrawingschool.org