The Athenium
Standing opposite Llanelli House & the Parish Church on the site of what was Pemberton House, the Athenium was constructed in 1857 and opened the following year. The Mechanics Institute made it its home, and they added a valuable library. Its original pillared porch was destroyed in an accident in 1923. The building which contains the Neville Gallery is now better known as Llanelli Public Library.
The Artist
John Wynne Hopkins was born in Llanelli in 1954. He emigrated with his parents as an infant and grew up in Northern Rhodesia (Now "Zambia") and Southern Rhodesia (Now "Zimbabwe"). He was educated at Llandovery College, Cardiff College of Art, Trinity College in CArmarthen and Swansea University where he attained a Bachelor of Education Degree. While in Rhodesia he was commissioned and served with the 1st Battalion The Rhodesian African Rifles before returning to Wales in 1982.
He has painted many scenes of Wales and llanelli in Oils and Watercolour. Numerous commissions for the British Army, especially the Army Air Corps has included visits to Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. He was a former Chairman of the Llanelli Art Society, Chairman of the Rhodesian Army Association Museum Trust based in the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol Temple Meads and is the current Chairman of Llanelli Community Heritage.
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