A MURAL portraying the history of Blaenau Ffestiniog has been completed on the side of a shop and café.

The mural is on the side of the Antur Stiniog Shop and Coffee House and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site bid for the slate mining areas of North Wales.

Helen McAteer, the manager of the shop in Blaenau Ffestiniog, told the Cambrian News about the mural, the artist behind it and the importance of what it represents.

Helen said: “The mural on the Antur Stiniog Shop and Coffee House on High Street was designed and painted by a young, local artist named Lleucu Gwenllian.

“Having obtained a degree in art from Cardiff University, Lleucu’s talent and skills along with her local knowledge of the Ffestiniog area has created a lively, colourful and unique mural that celebrates Blaenau Ffestiniog’s culture, history, folklore and landscape.”

Lleucu said: “It was an amazing experience to create the mural. The process of designing the murals began in September 2020 and the painting was done in bits and pieces over the winter, whenever the weather permitted it!

“I was supported during the entire process by Leah from Antur Stiniog, as well as my grandfather who helped me paint the base coats for the walls, and it was also a great experience to be able to chat to people about the project as I was painting in the streets - everyone was lovely and their kind words made the cold weather much less painful.

“It was an honour to commissioned to paint the mural by LleChi, especially as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage bid for the Slate Mining Areas of North Wales, and I’m very happy I was able to make a contribution to Blaenau’s town centre.”