AWARD-WINNING artist, Elin Sian Blake, is now artist-in-residence at fine art gallery, The Big Sky Gallery, in Usk.

Elin, who was brought up in the south Wales valleys, is renowned for her equestrian images, tender portraits of motherhood, and her depiction of Welsh rugby players.

Elin will also be managing The Big Sky Gallery, which is owned by keen collectors of art Barrie and Jane Jones.

Both the Usk gallery and its online counterpart feature high calibre modern artists such as Nancy Bailey, David Wilde, Donald McIntyre, and the recently deceased Welsh artist, Wilf Roberts.

Gallery co-founder Jane Jones says: “Having had a long career in the legal profession, I decided it was time to explore my passion for fine art. We opened the gallery in Usk earlier this year to create a space where potential collectors could view a wide selection of interesting pieces. We decided to have an artist in residence to add life and character to the gallery. We chose Elin because of her distinctive style and her broad range of subject matter, from human and animal portraits to vivid depictions of the Welsh landscape.”

Elin adds: “The converted chapel in Usk is the perfect place for a studio and a gallery, the atmosphere of the place is great for developing my work, and provides the ideal combination of interaction with visitors to the gallery, and peace and quiet in my studio.”

Elin, 35, lives just outside Usk with her young family. She describes her favourite subjects as being Welsh cobs and the landscape of rural Wales.

“I went on a road trip around Wales in a converted horse lorry, and that gave me a profound insight into the character of rural Wales,” she says.

The Big Sky Gallery can be found in Twyn Square, Usk, and on www.thebigskygallery.com