Hannah is the star of Botanic exhibition

Capturing the magic of imaginary worlds – that’s the aim of artist Hannah Lewis Davies in her new exhibition ‘The Great Escape’ at the National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne near Carmarthen.
The 23-year-old graduate of the West Wales School for the Arts is on show in the Garden’s Courtyard Gallery from December 2.
Hannah, from Pendine, addresses the recurring theme of “escapism” in her work. She says: “Escapism is the act of retreating from the mundane reality of life and entering into a fantastical place of wonder and contentment; a place which only exists in one’s own imagination.
“I am continually fascinated by the ability I had as a child to disengage with reality and enter into an imaginary world.”
This world is visually exhilarating, full of wonder and unrestricted by logic.
“My work draws heavily on fleeting childhood memories, imagined fantasies and the innocence and contentment found in escaping reality,” says Hannah.
The irrational nature of escapism combined with fragmented childhood memories has allowed her to create paintings which flash and merge somewhere between reality and fantasy.
“My aim is to entice the viewer to step outside of reality and to momentarily enter into these imaginary spaces,” she says.
The Great Escape is at the National Botanic Garden until February 24.
Hannah will be using the Gallery as a studio space so that you can see her at work.