Getting to know Helen Duffee

Artist Helen Duffee works as an Art Curator at Gallery Gwyn, Aberaeron. The gallery is part of the ‘Hapus i Siarad / Happy to Talk’ scheme, which encourages Welsh learners to use and enjoy their Welsh out and about visiting local shops and businesses.

Helen shares her experiences with us...

Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you and where are you from?

My father’s family came over from Ireland to London. My mother was from the Midlands. I lived in Scotland for 10 years before moving to Ceredigion, near Lampeter, in 1981.

Can you tell us more about your Welsh language journey?

My children went to Ysgol y Dderi Welsh-medium primary school, where they all learned Welsh very quickly and easily. I started my language journey by enrolling on evening classes.

Through being immersed in a Welsh-speaking community, my pronunciation and spelling have developed quite well. My vocabulary has also gradually increased, with help from my pupils, through  my continuing work with the local school, teaching organic horticulture and art.

I have a great respect for the Welsh language and culture, inspired some years ago by meeting Professor Thomas Charles-Edwards, of Jesus College, Oxford, who introduced me to the early Welsh poem, ‘Eiry Mynydd’, found in the medieval Welsh manuscript, Llyfr Coch Hergest. This poem has informed my work as an artist.

What’s the best thing about learning Welsh?

One of the best things about learning Welsh is being able to make that special connection through sharing the language. My advice to other learners would be to know that they will always receive encouragement from Welsh speakers when they try to converse in Welsh.

Why is it important for Gallery Gwyn to be part of the ‘Hapus i Siarad / Happy to talk’ scheme?

It is so important to be able to greet visitors bilingually – always with Welsh first – and to be as welcoming and as helpful as possible, especially for local visitors and school and college visits.

How do you use your Welsh in the gallery?

I’m very fortunate in having a friend who’s good with languages, and we have interesting conversations as we translate ‘artist statements’, the descriptions displayed alongside exhibitions. 

I’m becoming more confident in translating artistic words and terms, and more familiar with Welsh language patterns.

What’s next with learning Welsh?

I will continue to learn through my role as a curator at Gallery Gwyn, by talking with Welsh artists exhibiting at the gallery, greeting and helping visitors, and through the translation work with artist statements and gallery publicity - so that we are a truly bilingual venue.

The ‘Hapus i Siarad / Happy to Talk’ scheme is a partnership between Mentrau Iaith Cymru and The National Centre for Learning Welsh. You can learn more about the scheme, and find which local businesses are taking part by following the next link: Hapus i Siarad / Happy to Talk | Y Mentrau Iaith

Here are some images of Helen's recent artwork.

Bloom & Blodau II - acrylic/collage on canvas

Landscape II - collage on board

Gaia 2024 - acrylic/collage on a random object