To celebrate internationally renowned painter, Andrew Douglas-Forbes, starting his residency at Aberglasney the renowned plantsman’s paradise in Carmarthenshire is asking children to create a design or write a poem about their dream garden.

Children up to the age of 16 are being encouraged to enter the competition to do an A4 design of their dream garden and to make it as colourful as the flowers around Aberglasney Gardens using pens / paint / crayons or colouring pencils. A poem about their dream garden can be created instead, or as well as, a picture.

The winning child can bring a group of friends or family (classmates if it is a school entry) to have a fun-packed, bilingual, and informative guided tour of Aberglasney by the Gardens’ Director, Helen Scutt. The group will also be given lunch, prepared by the Tearooms.

Eleanor Keatley, acting Chairman of Aberglasney’s Board of Trustees said, “The competition is a fitting tribute to the start of the residency of one of Aberglasney Gardens’ long-standing supporters, Andrew Douglas-Forbes, who kindly agreed to judge last year’s children’s art competition which was part of our 25th anniversary celebrations.

“It is always a pleasure to welcome the local schools to perform at the gardens during our Winter Fair and we have fun activities and trails for children of all ages throughout the year. Your dream garden design and poem can be in Welsh, English or bilingual. The most important aspect is for it to include lots of colourful flowers, just like those growing around Aberglasney throughout the year.”

Andrew Douglas Forbes, who lives in Llandeilo, studied under Patricia Briggs at Swansea College of Art. He subsequently received guidance from Gordon Stuart, known for his portrait of Dylan Thomas and dramatic landscapes where forms emerge from light. Beyond his artistic talents, Andrew is a scholar of the Royal Academy of Music and a professional tenor who lived in Tuscany for several years to pursue an opera career. Upon returning to Wales, Andrew coincidently was invited to a ball at Aberglasney when it was still in ruins, which he recalls as ‘enchanting’. Since the end of the 1990s, his relationship with the mansion has deepened as the space itself has evolved. Understanding Andrew’s unique vision as an antique specialist, artist and operatic tenor is crucial to appreciating his work.

Andrew’s artistic exploration engages all the senses, much like Aberglasney’s mission with its collection, garden, and educational programmes. His art reflects his distinctive way of seeing the world, capturing elements of the past that remain present in our daily lives.

Of his new residency, Andrew said, “I am very humbled and proud to accept the appointment of artist in residence at Aberglasney. I have long been associated with the gardens and have recently taken up space to create a large studio on the second floor of the mansion. My paternal grandmother would have been so proud, as my love of gardens and gardening came from spending time, when I was really small, with her in our potting sheds and glorious summer house on Gower.”

For those entering their pieces of art or poem, the creative competition closes at 4pm on Friday, 20 June 2025 and the winner will be announced the week after. All entries will then be on display for visitors to enjoy.

Each individual entry whether it is a piece of art or a poem must have written on the back:

•           Name and age of the child

•           Email address of an adult that can be contacted on behalf of the child

•           Name and contact details of the school (if entering via school)

Please post or hand deliver entries to: Dream Garden Design competition, Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8QH.