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Watercolour Painting of Newport Cathedral, South Wales

 

 A Quiet Hilltop, A Majestic View 

Watercolour painting of Newport Cathedral, South Wales, perched on a hill under a soft sky, surrounded by greenery, with the church tower visible.


Climbing the hill to St Woolos Cathedral in Newport isn’t for the faint of heart, but once you reach the top, the view, the stillness, and the architectural beauty make it all worth it.

This watercolour was painted a couple of years ago, inspired by that very moment. I remember pausing at the top, catching my breath, and quietly admiring how the stone structure stood so assuredly against the soft landscape. It felt timeless.

Newport Cathedral, South Wales


A Little History...

St Woolos Cathedral, or Eglwys Gadeiriol Sant Gwynllyw in Welsh, is one of the oldest functioning religious buildings in Wales. The original church is thought to have been founded in the 5th or 6th century by Saint Gwynllyw, a Welsh king who converted to Christianity.

Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt, extended, and fortified—especially after attacks during the Norman era. Much of the present structure includes Norman, medieval, and Victorian elements. It was officially designated as a cathedral in 1949, serving as the mother church of the Diocese of Monmouth.

What I love about this place is not just its history, but how it seems to rise out of the landscape without disturbing it—quiet, steadfast, and deeply rooted.

This painting is a personal reflection of that moment: one foot in history, one in the present, all wrapped in light and colour.


Simon Burdge




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