Narberth Artist Exhibits at the Torch

This April, the Joanna Field Gallery at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, will be home to an exhibition called Rear View Mirror by artist Mark Crockett from Narberth. It is a collection of paintings reflecting on the past few years since he became ill in 2021.

The theatre says: “The pieces often try to capture the first and last moments of light in the day, a point when things are simultaneously fading away and just beginning.

“Since leaving art college in the late1980s, Mark has travelled and worked all over the world, living in converted vintage buses, caravans and various building sites. He has spent most of the past 30 years in the mountains of central Portugal, restoring abandoned stone houses.”

Mark, who lives with his Canadian wife in an old Post Office building they are currently restoring, says: “After college I put down my paintbrushes following a loud and pointless argument with my tutor and didn’t pick them up again for 35 years. During that time, I picked hops, played records in clubs, and breathed fire over dancing crowds from the top of bass bins. I learned to surf, build houses and rediscovered photography (I hadn’t fought with my photography tutor). A few summers of being a wedding photographer in Portugal took me to some pretty amazing places with some incredible people.

“A few years ago, I got sick. I contracted an autoimmune disease that means at times I can’t even walk. I struggled with this massive change, not being able to work or surf anymore, and for a long time I was in a really dark place. I don’t know why, but one day I picked up a paintbrush and the paintings started to fall out.

“I had no real intention of showing or selling any of my work. That’s not why I’ve been painting again. I’ve always drawn and painted since I can remember. I come from a family of creatives: my dad is a sculptor and painter, my brother is a digital artist, and now my daughter has just completed a foundation at UAL [University of the Arts London].Three generations of artists…”

He added: “It’s the first time I’ve had a solo exhibition and I’m pretty nervous but also excited as it will be nice to see all my recent work in one space.”

You can find more of Mark’s work on instagram @papersurfer or at www.papersurfer.com. All images reproduced here ©papersurfer studio 2025.

The exhibition is at the Joanna Field Gallery throughout April during box office opening times. Further details: www.torchtheatre.co.uk or 01646 695267.

Rear View Mirror: arddangosfa gan  Mark Crockett, artist o Arberth

Fis Ebrill eleni, bydd Oriel Joanna Field yn Theatr Torch yn gartref i arddangosfa o’r enw Rear View Mirror gan yr artist Mark Crockett o Arberth, Sir Benfro. Mae’n gasgliad o baentiadau sy’n myfyrio ar yr ychydig flynyddoedd ers iddo fynd yn sâl yn 2021. Mae’r darnau’n aml yn ceisio dal eiliadau cyntaf ac olaf y dydd, adeg pan fo pethau’n diflannu ar yr un pryd a dim ond yn dechrau.

Ers gadael y coleg celf ar ddiwedd yr ’80au mae Mark wedi teithio a gweithio ar draws y byd, ac wedi byw mewn hen fysiau wedi’u trawsnewid, carafanau a safleoedd adeiladu amrywiol. Mae wedi treulio’r rhan fwyaf o’r 30 mlynedd diwethaf ym mynyddoedd canol Portiwgal yn adfer tai segur o garreg.

“Ar ôl bod yn y coleg, rhoddais fy mrwshys paent gadw yn dilyn ffrae uchel a dibwrpas gyda fy nhiwtor. Wnes i ddim eu defnyddio eto am 35 mlynedd. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, fe wnes i gasglu hopys, chwarae recordiau mewn clybiau, a chwythu tân dros dorfeydd yn dawnsio o ben biniau bas. Dysgais syrffio, adeiladu tai ac ailddarganfyddais ffotograffiaeth (doeddwn i ddim wedi ymladd gyda fy nhiwtor ffotograffiaeth). Aeth ychydig o hafau heibio o fod yn ffotograffydd priodas ym Mhortiwgal ac aeth â mi i lefydd eithaf anhygoel gyda rhai pobl anhygoel.”

“Ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl fe es i’n sâl. Fe wnes i ddal afiechyd awto-imiwn sy’n golygu ar adegau na allaf gerdded hyd yn oed. Cefais drafferth gyda’r newid anferth hwn, methu â gweithio na syrffio bellach ac am gyfnod hir roeddwn mewn lle tywyll iawn. Wn i ddim pam, ond un diwrnod codais frwsh paent a dechreuodd y paentiadau lifo,” parhaodd Mark sydd bellach yn byw gyda’i wraig o Ganada, mewn hen adeilad Swyddfa’r Post y maent ar hyn o bryd yn ei drwsio.

“Doedd gen i ddim bwriad gwirioneddol i ddangos na gwerthu darnau o’m ngwaith. Nid dyna pam rydw i wedi bod yn peintio eto,” esboniodd.

“Rwyf wastad wedi darlunio a phaentio ers y gallaf gofio. Rwy’n dod o deulu o bobl greadigol: mae fy nhad yn gerflunydd ac yn beintiwr, mae fy mrawd yn artist digidol, a nawr mae fy merch newydd gwblhau cwrs sylfaen yn UAL. Tair cenhedlaeth o artistiaid…”

Ychwanegodd: “Dyma’r tro cyntaf i mi gynnal arddangosfa unigol ac rwy’n eithaf nerfus ond hefyd yn gyffrous gan y bydd yn braf gweld fy holl waith diweddar o dan un to.”

Gallwch ddod o hyd i fwy o waith Mark ar instagram @papersurfer neu drwy ymweld âwww.papersurfer.com. Delweddau © papersurfer studio 2025.

Gellir gweld arddangosfa Rear View Mirror gan Mark Crockett yn Oriel Joanna Field drwy gydol mis Ebrill yn ystod oriau agor y Swyddfa Docynnau. Ewch i’r wefan am fanylion pellach www.torchtheatre.co.uk neu ffoniwch y Swyddfa Docynnau ar (01646) 695267.