MyfanwyNia

Harriet, known artistically as MyfanwyNia, is a multidisciplinary visual artist specializing in Pop Surrealism. Born in South Wales and raised in London, she moved to Ireland in 1999, where she lives to date. Harriet is recipient of the prestigious RDS Taylor Art Award and holds a Degree in Fine Art from Sligo IT (ATU) and a Master of Fine Art from the University of Ulster in Belfast.

Her playful and whimsical works often feature distinctive big-eyed feminine characters, exploring themes of childhood nostalgia, fantasy and identity. Combining vibrant illustrative storytelling with a fluidic and decorative aesthetics in jazzy compositions. Her practice includes murals, paintings and illustration, constantly reimagining decorative and otherworldly dreamscapes creating charicters with curiosity, storytelling and emotional connection.

Harriet has meaningful experience developing community-focused murals, working with groups and school students to guide and shape ideas that reflect their unique voices. Through these collaborations, she introduces young people to mural painting and creative teamwork, fostering a sense of ownership and connection in the spaces they transform.

“Through the process of creating and experiencing art, we see reflections of ourselves in its expression. It is in these creative moments as we express and let go of our emotions, we uncover a deeper understanding of who we are and a greater connection to the world around us.”

This piece reimagines the Guinness Storehouse as a living, embodied character, a magical carnival figure infused with Irish spirit and industrial history.

The central fae-like dancer evokes the energy of contemporary Irish dance in her poised stance and lifted arm. She holds a pint aloft in celebration, echoing the atmosphere I experienced when visiting the Storehouse, a sense of spectacle, pride and festivities.

Her skirt transforms into a surreal iron skirt structure, inspired by the the architecture of the Storehouse and steampunk aesthetics I felt seeing the antique brewing chambers. This architectural crinoline holds a dreamlike embodiment of the Storehouse within it, its industrial forms glowing from inside, as though powered by memory and craft. The structure becomes both costume and environment, blending fashion, machinery and history.

Flowing outward from beneath her, a vibrant flow of colours and celtic patterns, carries symbols of music, heritage and creativity, suggesting Guinness as something that moves beyond its walls and into culture itself. Visually, the work blends heritage with a contemporary pop-cultural lens. My fairy aesthetic reimagines Irish cultural identity in a way that feels vibrant and current. By centring a strong, celebratory feminine figure, the piece offers representation that resonates with women while inviting new audiences into a story that feels accessible, inclusive and alive.

The work celebrates Guinness not simply as a place, but as a theatrical, living spirit, where history, craftsmanship and celebration meet.