The project, which will be based at Wales national ground until 2005 and is set to cover the Stadium with artwork created by children from all parts of the country, is welcoming sponsors who will receive a plaque at the ground in return for their sponsorship of children’s groups.
And Newport based meat processing company T H Sutcliffe is the first to sign a cheque to back the worthy cause.
“We wanted the Ieuan Evans portrait to go up in our boardroom next to the insignia for our new brand of beef, ‘Celtic Pride’,” said managing director Graham Butt.
“Ieuan is a Welsh legend in his own right and
synonymous with the pride of the nation and the fact that the money we have paid is going to a
good community cause makes the purchase all the better.”
The money provided has already ensured more than 100 children from schools in the Rhondda, Monmouth and Ty Hafan hospice can experience a day out at the Millennium Stadium and create artwork to dress its walls.
Evans visited children from The Grange prep school in Monmouth working at the Stadium today (Tuesday 2 December), and handed over the portrait to the project’s first sponsor.
“The artwork the children are producing is very impressive and they have done a remarkable job on my portrait considering what the had to work with,” quipped the former Wales and British Lions wing come TV pundit.
“I’m not the most photogenic person in the world, but I’m pleased to see I have a full head of hair and I’m obviously concentrating fully on the task in hand.
“The portrait is even technically correct with me holding the ball in two hands, I think this is me either just before I darted over for a try against England in 1993 or for the Lions against Australia in 1989… one of the two!”
The community art project is run by professional artists from Pippin’s Designs Ltd and children are given outlines of figures and famous faces from the world of sport to paint, ensuring all artwork is of a high standard.
Children receive an official tour of the Millennium Stadium during the day and all work will ultimately be displayed around the ground alongside sponsors’ plaques.
The community project is open to groups of all ages and interested parties or sponsors should contact Jon Phillips on 07974 791717 or
email: pippinsdesigns@hotmail.com.
