New Art Central Gallery Exhibition Shines a Light on Historic Welsh Chapels
A new photography exhibition exploring the chapels of Wales is now on show at the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Art Central Gallery in Barry - bringing together the work of photographers Chris Evans and Patricia Ziad.
Capeli presents two distinct perspectives on Wales’s nonconformist chapels and the changing role of these once-familiar buildings in communities across the country.
Evans and Ziad both hold MA degrees in Documentary Photography and met while studying in Newport. Since then, they have independently travelled throughout Wales, capturing the character of chapels that were once a prominent feature of towns and villages across the country. Their work documents these buildings at a time when many are sadly in decline, reflecting the significant changes that have taken place over the past century.
Although the subject matter is the same, the photographers have approached it differently, exploring detail, dramatic light, contrasting symmetrical interiors and geometric repetition. Evans’ images are presented in black and white, while Ziad’s are in colour.
The exhibition opened on 10 September with speeches from Cllr Rhiannon Birch and Dr Peter Wakelin, one of Wales’s most prominent historians, writers and curators.
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, the Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “This exhibition hits all three aspects of my cabinet portfolio: Arts and Culture; Education and the Welsh Language, as many of the chapels of Wales were responsible for nurturing the Welsh language and culture and providing education when provision was sparse and dangerously threatened. The chapel was historically very popular in villages across Wales yet today, many are no longer used for their original purpose with depleting congregations and repurposing of the buildings.”
Dr Wakelin said: “Nonconformist chapels have a claim to be the national architecture of Wales. Some 7,000 of them around the country were mostly designed by Welsh architects and built by Welsh communities. Chris and Patricia’s beautiful photographs demonstrate the craftsmanship and care that went into them across generations”.
Both speakers highlighted the cultural significance of these historic buildings, including their role in education and in keeping the Welsh language and traditions alive, as well as the importance of documenting them before they disappear.
The opening attracted a large audience, with visitors praising the quality of the photography and the thoughtful curatorial story connecting the works and bringing the exhibition’s theme to life.
Chris Evans said: “What a successful opening of the Capeli exhibition! The images have brought back personal memories of visiting the Chapels as well as photographing and providing a record of the Chapels and contributing to the architectural heritage of Wales”.
Patricia Ziad said: “The visitors showed great interest in our work which was very rewarding. Art Central Gallery is an exceptional venue, it’s spacious and the light is excellent. We as artists both feel privileged to be able to exhibit our work in the gallery”.
The exhibition has also been accepted as part of the FFOTO Cymru 2026 Fringe programme. Ffoto Cymru is Wales’ International Festival of Photography, bringing together artists, photographers, communities and audiences across the country for a month-long celebration of contemporary photography and image-making.
This year they are exploring the theme ‘There’s More to Life’. For more information about the full programme, visit: What's On — ffotogallery
The exhibition also aligns with the wider Capeli Cymru project, led by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
As a major initiative to document and preserve Wales's Nonconformist heritage, it offers an opportunity for the exhibition to contribute to this important national record and further promote awareness of Wales's historic chapels - RCAHMW | Projects | Capeli Cymru
Capeli is currently on show at Art Central Gallery, King Square, Barry, where it will remain open to the public until 17 October 2026.
The gallery is open every weekday from 9:30am – 4:30pm and 9:30am – 15:30pm on Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays.
Entrance is free and all are welcome.
For further information about Art Central Gallery, click here.