Picture perfect: meet North Wales artist Beth Horrocks

From her studio in Caernarfon, North Wales artist Beth Horrocks uses her skill in graphic design to realise the majesty of the North Wales coastline. Her unique style is fresh and contemporary, and beautifully captures some of the places we love most in the world.

Beth’s journey into running her own studio and gallery is a slightly unusual one. An established graphic designer, she was until a few years ago happily forging her career by designing logos and other marketing materials for a range of different businesses. 

But a chance opportunity – taking part in a workshop with her young children – helped Beth to reconnect with her creativity, and reminded her how much she loved the freedom of her own imagination. 

It was around this time that Beth spotted a poster calling for submissions to an open art exhibition. Enthused by how much she had enjoyed the workshop with her children, Beth entered and was delighted to find out her work had been accepted. 

But that was just the beginning. Beth went on to win first prize at the exhibition, and soon afterwards her career took a completely new direction. 

In 2022, Beth opened Oriel Beth Horrocks Gallery at Cei Lechi in the heart of Caernarfon’s creative quarter. The location alone makes it well worth a visit – the gallery is open plan with scenic views of the nearby harbour and the mighty Caernarfon Castle.

If you make time for a visit (and we really recommend you do), you might even get a masterclass in how Beth goes about creating her work. 

Having previously worked exclusively from the privacy of her home studio, the artist – who grew up on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) – now works from the gallery full-time, where she is able to create, showcase and frame her works all in one picturesque location. 

Describing her work, Beth says:

“I like to share that same feeling of calm I get from being outdoors in the countryside, whether it be on a run, or a day out with the family. I want to share the love I have for where I live, to celebrate and explore the local land and seascapes in a contemporary way. I hope my work brings people joy, evokes happy memories, and makes them feel uplifted.”

Oriel Beth Horrocks Gallery stocks several of Beth’s original works, as well as prints in varying sizes. It’s a great place to find beautiful gifts too, including coasters, calendars, placemats, cards and plenty more besides. 

The gallery is open daily, except Sundays. You’ll find it on the 1st floor of Unit 19 in the Cei Llechi development, between the Highland Railway and Caernarfon Castle. There is a lift for wheelchair or pushchair access and parking is available directly outside. 

If you’re heading to Beth’s gallery, why not make a day of it? One of the must-see towns of North Wales, Caernarfon is home to the nation’s most magnificent fortress, as well as 13th century town walls, cobbled streets, and Georgian architecture.  There are plenty of great places for food and drink. Find out more on our Things to do in Caernarfon page.