Jon Evans is a self-taught sculptor, illustrator, and poet inspired by nature, mythology, Celtic art, and the inner world.
Born in Carmarthen, South Wales, in 1969, Jon's early life was marked by an unsettled childhood in children's homes and foster care, followed by a time living on the road as a New Age Traveller. He settled in Mid Wales, near Aberystwyth, where he lives with his family and creates from his studio.
Identifying as an artist from a young age, his bardic initiation unfolded over several years of meticulous work, creating a series of highly detailed, metamorphic, spiritual, and mythological drawings, paired with poetry taking the reader to the depths of his inner world. He then picked up a mallet and chisel and began sculpting, working first with wood and then slate. For a time, his studio was in the old morgue at Aberllefenni slate quarry, where he developed a love for the high quality slate of the area.
Drawing from his diverse experiences and surroundings, Jon’s mythological art delves into the undercurrents of life and nature, continuing an ancient Celtic bardic tradition.
Jon appeared on Channel 4 TV creating a 'dragon wall' in a Welsh garden on the Landscape Man series in 2010 and a selection of his wood carvings appeared on set in series 2 of S4C/BBC's Hinterland crime noire drama series, set in the Aberystwyth area, in 2015.
Visitors to his studio and gallery are welcome any time by appointment or on the Ceredigion Art Trail every summer.
Reviews
I first became aware of the slate and wood carvings, and the drawings of Jon Evans, at The Festival In The Shire, (A J.R.R. Tolkien related event) in Mid Wales. From the outset, I could see that here was a dedicated craftsman, completely focused on his art, and versatile in his application.
His exhibition held a number of innovative carvings in a celtic style, but what really took my eye was his natural wood 'sculptures', made from driftwood and tree roots from a time-worn oak. Even the selections of these raw materials indicated a discerning eye.
© Rodney Matthews, 2010
Beautiful, subtle, a work of art
Matthew Wilson on Channel 4's The Landscape Man (regarding Jon's "Dragon Wall")
Jon is in my opinion one of the best sculptors preserving the traditions of Celtic carving in slate, stone and wood alive today.
Peter de Sausmarez MInstPI, Seigneur. ArtParks International