A former Sunday Times Young Artist of the Year is staging a Dylan Thomas event at New Quay Memorial Hall next month in order to raise funds for the cash-strapped venue.

Cardiff-born Dan Llywelyn Hall, who has spent many family holidays in New Quay over the years, will – on Saturday, 10 August (2pm to 6pm) – be hosting an exhibition of his work, poetry readings and Dylan Thomas talks by Jeff Towns, a renowned authority on the poet.

Live music will also feature at some point during the afternoon.

The event has been sponsored by Penderyn and a Penderyn tasting, with Welsh canapés, will cost £5 per ticket. For viewing only, admission is £1. Children enter for free.  

Dan’s subjects have included The Queen, whose portrait is on permanent exhibition at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium; Victoria Cross recipient Sir Tasker Watkins; the Duke of Cambridge; singer Amy Winehouse; and First World War veteran Harry Patch.

His work has been exhibited extensively throughout the UK, in both solo and group exhibitions, in venues such as the Saatchi Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Wales, Windsor Castle, MoMA Wales and others.

He has also put on a series of notable exhibitions and events in London to mark the Dylan Thomas centenary, which is what he will base the New Quay exhibition on.

“It promises to be an interesting event with obvious historical connections to New Quay,” said Karen Morse, of the Save New Quay Memorial Hall fundraising group.