Iarlles y Ffynnon
Shield
Iarlles Y Ffynnon / Lady of the Fountain
Completed October 2025
(This is a live document in flux written without AI)
This painting is inspired by a confluence of urges and prompts. I am inspired by the earthworks of Builth Castle in Builth Wells because there is no castle. The ground maintains the original earthworks, spiralling and perilous channels cut in the ground. The stones have long since been removed. The site has ignited an urge to create a treasure from an imagined past, a complete object born from the mere idea of this castle and past beneath my feet in Builth Wells.
The surface is created using pure copper a surface with a long tradition as an oil painting surface. The martial significance of Builth Wells castle called for a connection to armour. I commissioned William West of Dragon Armourie to work the sheet into a new form. The shape has been guided by his hand to match a jousting shield's shape. West’s work places a pin in the exact centre where history, engineering, art, and raw strength meet. The armour he creates is beautiful and ready to die in.
It has been a challenge to compose imagery worthy of the shields blank beauty. I sourced an Arthurian legend from a small well-worn welsh book that I inherited from my Grandad. Inside his century old copy of ‘The Childrens Mabinogion’ was the story Iarlles y Ffynnon (Lady of the Fountain). I have since learned that this story is one of the earliest stories written in Welsh and forms the foundation for some of the Arthurian legends. I am taking a welsh course now and feel connected to this family link to this written word.
The story of Iarlles Y Ffynnon (Lady of the Fountain) has many variations but has irresistible imagery. A knight from Arthurs court weds a beautiful and powerful lady who lives in a magical fountain. He neglects her, and in order to win her back must vanquish beasts including a serpent to win her back. Aided by his lion, the knight succeeds, a marriage saved. A story which could appeal and relate to any age group as it was passed from generation to generation by fireside before being penned in the Mabinogion in the late 11th century.
I decided to directly reference the imagery of St.Mark from the Lindesfarne Gospels. The hero who is also aided by a lion in many of his depictions in manuscripts. I wanted to have him emerging from the manuscript, a paper soldier pitted against the serpent. The Lindesfarne gospels are intoxicatingly beautiful and inspiring, and will inspire more work in future.
I have stitched around the edges with stainless steel, and the shield hangs on the wall as-is.
Photographing the shield in the space where the castle used to be is the final destination of this process. An imagined treasure/object from the past in site steeped in history.
For commissions contact mhairi.mhairi@gmail.com