At Narberth’s Oriel Q Gallery, the exhibition ‘Up and Coming’ by artist Fiona Cutting brings skyscapes full of activity as the birds of the Cleddau Estuary orchestrate their aerial gatherings.

Swirling around and turning, they make “patterns out of chaos”. Some settle on telegraph wires or huddle against the wind on branches.

One young crow adopted Fiona, tapping on the front window, following the artist around to the back door to receive its breakfast. Painting birds has been an interest of hers for a long time. As well as birds, the flowers in her garden have been an inspiration. Fiona’s vigorous brushwork transforms this traditional subject for artists into an exciting riot of colour and liveliness.

As a contrast to the great outdoors and wintry skies, Olwen Thomas is exhibiting her domestic ceramics – a bold fusion of traditional crafts. 

Her jugs and mugs are decorated with distinctive patterns inspired by the the immediately recognisable weave used in traditional Welsh blankets. Cunningly applied to the ceramic surface, the distinctive woven patterns appear on Olwen’s mugs and even on her jewellery.

In the window, painter of the month Lynn Stuart employs an interesting technique to picture three children in the work ‘Hubberston Girls’. The painting echoes a time when the artist grew up on a Council estate, which she describes as “both wonderful and scary”.

This large work shows three small well-dressed girls staring directly ahead but, despite the smile on the face of the youngest, there is a tense feeling about it as they stand, leaning against chain link fence, backed by an urban road lined with terraced houses, stretching away into the distance.

Lynn’s technique involves oiling the back of the paper to create translucency, and this adds to the faint sense of menace and desolation.

The exhibition opens on Saturday March 9 and extends until Saturday April 6. Oriel Q Gallery is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4pm at 11, Market Street, Narberth SA67 7AX. Telephone 01834 218894. Email: [email protected]