Tyn y Fron - Lon Muriau, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, North Wales, UK - Art Studios on Waymarking.com

The cottage was built in the mid 19th century for the artist Lawrence Coppard RA (Royal Academy). It is described as an outbuilding behind the main house. Lawrence was a carver and gilder and there is a report from January 1837 stating that he also repaired frames. He also wrote a book called 'A Correct Report of the Trial of Lawrence Coppard on a charge of wilful and corrupt perjury, in the King's Bench, Dec. 10th, 1827' From Mr. Gurney's short-hand notes with the following authors Lawrence Coppard, William Brodie Gurney and Samuel Peach.

One work mentioned as being completed at Tyn y Fron is no. 829 "Thoscheavenly hills all veiled in mist" from 1895 at the Royal Academy.

Today the cottage has been renovated and refurbished and remains one of several interesting buildings with artistic references in Betws-y-Coed. Nearby is Park Hill where Edwin Pettit stayed and Rose Hill where William Artingstall stayed, all lying south of Plas Muriau (mentioned below).

No artist actually lived in Betws-y-Coed until 1846 and many stayed in The Royal Oak Hotel or The Swan. George Popkin was living in the town in 1846 at Castell Pwt on the eastern side of the road towards Llanrwst then he moved to Plas Muriau in 1850 which is opposite Muriau Farm; it is not known whether he actually built Plas Muriau or not.

A mile to the south of Betws-y-Coed is Wernfawr in the Fairy Glen where Richard Bond lived. He was the earlist English resident in the area and remained here until he died in 1886. His son inherited his artistic talent and became a landscape painter; he was John Lloyd Bond. He lived here until the 1890s with his sister Mary who was 10 years his junior, who was a portrait artist herself.

Another notable artist is William Evans also known as 'Welsh Evans' or 'Evans of Bristol', as he was born in Bristol in 1809. He rented Tyn-y-cae (single storey building) which lies in the fields between Wernfawr and Fairy Glen with the cottage Cyclopean standing above the river.

Francis William Topham stayed at Dinas Hall on the Penrhyn Estate in 1861 at the hunting lodge. James Whittaker stayed in Ffridd Castle and halfway to Conwy stood an artist's club at Tal y Bont which was a very popular place for artists. Plas Mawr at Llanbedr-y-Cennin actually had an academy and another artist's club was once in Trefriw.

As you can see, the area, especially Betws-y-Coed, is enriched with artists' work and it was the primary reason of our own, first visit to the area back in 1997.

Address: Tyn-y-Fron Lon Muriau Betws-y-Coed Conwy LL24 0HD Artist info: Lawrence Coppard Carver and Gilder Type of studio: Art studio Webpage that tells more about the artist: Not listed

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