UPDATE: Available for sale – framed (£50) and unframed (£35) – at the Cwmcarn Forest visitor center.  40% of proceeds go to help CwmCarn Forest.  Thank you to everyone who has bought one. Even if you aren’t interested in a print, do check out the visitor center cafe and shop—It is such a lovely little place.

Also available for sale – framed (£50) and unframed (£35) – at Crafted, Kingsway Shopping Centre, Newport. 

Having spent a rainy day hiking and picnicking on Twmbarlwm with family last summer, I thought to commemorate the day with a travel-poster style illustration—which was later digitally printed, with foil lettering (see below).

Twmbarlwm, also known as “The Tump” or “The Pimple”, is a 1,375 ft mountain that can be viewed from my home town of Newport, and the surrounding areas. Near the summit is an approximately 154ft bump, which is speculated to have been the site for a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle, built upon an Iron Age or late Bronze Age hill fort, or perhaps of mediaeval contruction.

There is nothing quite like standing on top of The Pimple and viewing the panoramic blanket of South Wales and the Bristol Channel as the wind whips about you.

Can I forget the sweet days that have gone / When poetry first began to stir my blood
And from the hills of Gwent I saw / The earth torn in two by Severn’s silver flood
—W. H. Davies, writing of a view from Twmbarlwm

William Henry Davies (1871-1940), aka “Supertramp” was a Newport-born poet who spent a significant part of his life tramping in the UK and US, but became one of the most popular poets of his time. I was surprised to learn that he is also responsible for this popular poem:

What is this life if, full of care / We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs / And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass / Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight / Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance / And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can / Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care / We have no time to stand and stare.

The print measures 10 x 13 1/2 inches, to fit perfectly in the IKEA Virserum frame.

Thanks to Jane B., who took a shining to the illustration, and prompted me to print it!
Credit to Ben at middle press, Brooklyn, who patiently and expertly helped me choose a thick, quality paper stock (110# cover), educated me on the art of foil stamping (matt white ink for the lettering), and coordinated with the printer.
Kudos to Cordes who beautifully printed, immaculately stamped and impressively wrapped the run of 40.

Sources:

Cwmbran.info

Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society

Tump Details

Wikipedia