HOW WALES GOALIE OWAIN CAPTURED ‘TOGETHER STRONGER’ ON CANVAS
LIKE many fans, one cult member of Wales’ heroic Euro 2016 squad felt the blues after returning home from the tournament. Wales’ run to the semi-finals was beyond the wildest dreams of all but the most optimistic supporters.
But returning home – to everyday life, to the day job – was something of a comedown, not only for those in the terraces but also for the idols they were cheering on.
Fortunately for goalkeeper Owain Fôn Williams, his talents are not confined to the pitch and he was able to produce this brilliant painting celebrating one of the tournament’s most iconic scenes.
Williams, a renowned artist who has depicted the slate quarrying heritage of his home, Dyffryn Nantlle in Gwynedd, admitted the artwork has helped him get over those post-Euros blues.
“I really didn’t want to paint anyt thing from the Euros, even though some of the boys – Wayne Hennessey, Joe Ledley – were asking me to,” remembered the gloveman, who plies his club trade for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership.
“Coming back, I thought ‘You know what? Wales have created history by being in France, getting as far as the semi-finals and being knocked out by the winners, Portugal.’
“I was sitting at home and thought I would paint that moment, capture that piece of history, as a painting.
“It’s something that means an awf ful lot to me because I did have the b blues coming back from France. It