DAY 2

21st July

Oxwich Bay, Gower

DYDD 2

21 Goffennaf

Bae Oxwich Gwyr

Artists /Artistiaid:

SARA HOLDEN,

TINA-MARIE CUNNINGHAM,

AND JENNY CHISHOLM

Photographer / Ffotograffydd Prosiect:

PHIL HOLDEN

Our annual Beach Sculpture Festival is held each year at beautiful Oxwich Bay on the second day. The beach is a large sandy one with everything you could want in an ecologically ideal coastal environment – sea, surf, dunes and salt marsh. Flags and displays were arranged by the artists across the beach to welcome people attending the festival. Being in the midst of another heatwave this summer, at 9.30am the sun was already beating down. It was a relief to know that the high tide that day would be around midday and provide cooling swims and paddles to everyone the beach as the temperature rose!

Placing the stones in an upright position to make the spine for this Leatherback Turtle.

A narrow mouthed Whorl Snail was made from stone, sand, sticks and shells and surrounded by washed up green seaweed. The snail is a tiny sand dune species, smaller than a sesame seed and is threatened by water pollution. It lives on sand dunes, around the roots of grass and near the shore under rocks. This tiny snail is part of the beach eco-system. During the artist led workshops at the festival, images and information was shared about all the creatures made including the special local habitats they live in.

The sculptures promoted conversations from passers by as well as participants who were interested in developing a better understanding of the fragile beach eco system and find out about different endangered species.

The Festival encourages all ages to take care of and appreciate nature.

The whole beach looks amazing!

A starfish is drawn out large scale and then decorated with some beautiful coloured stones and pebbles that are found on the beach.

Environmental Art Events like this are great as they get people together to learn about both art and the environment.

A Silky Wave Moth sculpture is decorated with white shells that were collected on the beach. The Moth has been reintroduced into Wales and can be spotted in the dunes and saltmarsh.

A shark is made on the shore by this lovely couple using smooth grey pebbles and washed up seaweed.

A wonderful display of different sculptures - really inspiring to all generations to create beach art for themselves.

I enjoyed seeing all the amazing sculptures of marine animals! The artists are so knowledgable on different species and art techniques and very engaging!

It was very hot and people also wanted to dip in the sea and sleep in the shade! Although those that joined us created lovely work!

The festival gave us more creative ideas of what to make on the beach and it was such fun!

THANK YOU TO OUR KIND SPONSORS BELOW:

Diolch i bawb am wneud ein gwyl cerflunwaith flynyddol mor llwyddiant unwaith eto.

The event gave all ages a knowledge of art and the environment. The festival encouraged creativity using local features. Environmental art events inspire people to be more creative and learn about both local and worldwide marine species and climate change issues affecting them and us.

I weld tudalen 3 o 2026 Gwyl Traeth Port Eynon - cliciwch ar y ddolen ar waelod y dudalen hon.

Oxwich Beach has a mixture of sand and shale that can be used for making sculptures. There are also limestone and pretty coloured stones and shells that can be used as textures, patterns and outlines of the marine animals that the festival participants made with the artists.

A leatherback turtle is always a favourite sculpture to make at the festival. The artists gave workshop participants' inspiration and advice to help achieve the perfect look for the sculptures.

A large scale sand lizard was made from different grey limestone pebbles and then decorated with green seaweed and shells.The species, once extinct in Wales, has been reintroduced and the sculpture gave the opportunity to learn about this interesting little creature that frequents sand dunes on Gower.

Creativity and wellbeing were enhanced for participants through the festival as they were encouraged to make sculptures based on marine animals.

Fish and wave willow frames were on display at this year's festival. There were also flags made by local school children.

The next stop on the festival tour was Port Eynon.To see Day 3 of 2026 Festival at Port Eynon Beach - click the link at the bottom of this page.