“Elemental” the title of Leonard Beard’s new mixed media exhibition at the
Oriel Q Gallery, Queens Hall Narberth embraces the ubiquitious spirit and
power of nature in all its forms, whether with his tumultous seascapes and craggy rocks, his depiction of cornfields with bitter hawthorns, neglected
and derelict farmsteads, a still life of flowers, the exuberance of colour in a
dawn and sunset, or the workmanlike illustration of paint-pots on an artist’s
table – all come within his view.

Born in London in the 1940’s and after a period in the Merchant Navy which gave Leonard a flavour of living by the sea he settled in South Wales in the
1970’s and then moved to Pembrokeshire 8 years ago overlooking the Irish
Sea at Goodwick. Leonard’s work has been exhibited in major galleries in
South West Wales and has been selected for Royal Academy Shows,
MOMA Open Exhibition and the Welsh Artist of the Year.

His determination to remain a free spirit and his ability to continually evolve,
despite the contraints of commerical pressures, has meant that he encompasses a wide range of subject matter. “It ‘s much more than the attempt to draw in people from all walks of life I ‘m highly committed to opening up access to art
for everyone” Leonard said.

His work, weaving and integrating images drawn from the natural environment,
is not easily categorised but as ever he continues to explore the connection between figurative and abstract form and the relationship of light and dark.
and this was one of the key themes in this exhibition.