Exhibition in Llangollen Museum

An exhibition held at Llangollen Museum in June and July 2026, created by Jenny Day and Martin Crampin, highlights the contribution of Valle Crucis abbey to the cultural life of north-east Wales. This creative collaboration draws together new artwork by Martin Crampin based on the magnificent burial monuments at the abbey with interpretative material presenting the literature connected with the abbey, and the poetry of Gutun Owain in particular.

Chronicles and genealogies written at the abbey record the deeds and family connections of the founding dynasty and other influential people, and visiting poets performed elegies for some of those buried at the abbey. Two fifteenth-century poets, Gutun Owain and Guto’r Glyn, developed particularly close relationships with the monastic community. Their verses provide a unique impression of life at Valle Crucis, from the generous feasts in the abbot’s hall to the heavenly singing of the choir in the abbey church.

The exhibition was launched on 10 June 2026. Jenny discussed Gutun Owain’s education and his connections with the abbey and Martin presented the monumental sculpture at the abbey and how it has inspired the coloured and layered images he has created for the exhibition. Gruffudd Antur and Eurig Salisbury highlighted the lively relationship between Gutun and other poets, and Eurig’s performance of one of Gutun’s poems, accompanied on the harp by Cadi Glwys Davies, provided an enchanting finale to the evening.

The exhibition remains open (with free entry) until 30 July. A book was produced based on the content of the exhibition, and is available at Llangollen Museum and through the University shop.

The ‘Gutun Owain, Border poet and Renaissance man’ project is funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council. For more information, visit the project website.