Celebrities, Camera, Action!

Wales’ first ever photographic Hall of Fame, the Cool Cymru Photographic Collection, will launch in November 2006 linking some of Wales’ most high profile celebrities including Bryn Terfel; Charlotte Church; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ryan Giggs; Rhys Ifans; Gavin Henson; Stuart Cable, with a talented Welsh photographer, Terry Morris.

The Cool Cymru Photographic Collection will launch in November 2006 linking some of Wales’ most high profile celebrities including Bryn Terfel; Charlotte Church; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ryan Giggs; Rhys Ifans; Gavin Henson; Stuart Cable, with a talented Welsh photographer, Terry Morris.

Set to be Wales’ first ever Hall of Fame and featuring stunning new pictures of our most recognised faces, the aim of the Collection when it officially opens at Wales Millennium Centre in November of this year, is to raise funds for one of the country’s best loved charities, The Noah’s Ark Appeal.

The brainchild of Terry Morris, a press and documentary photographer from Llanelli, The Cool Cymru Collection pays tribute to celebrities who have brought recognition to Wales through their dedicated field, who are proud to be Welsh, and who communicate their passion for their nation on the World stage.

A total of seven portraits have already been created, the latest being Dame Shirley Bassey. Each one depicts the individual’s personality in a way which has never been seen before. Another five celebrity portraits will be created by November, among them Joe Calzaghe and Katherine Jenkins, creating a totally unique collection of 12 of Wales' most famous faces. Sharing his views on the Collection, Terry Morris said:
“Each portrait tells the story behind the individual, illustrating their personality through the art of photography. I began my career as a photographer working for the press and public relations firms, but challenging myself with creating the Hall of Fame, it has given me scope for greater creativity, personal interpretation, freedom and expression. I want to create pictures which will be debated and show Wales’ most recognised faces in a new light.
"We have had a great reception from all the celebrities involved who are very interested in being part of the Collection and the spirit behind it and we are grateful for the time they have committed in aid of The Noah's Ark Appeal.”

Charlotte Church, a patron for the Welsh charity, was the first to be photographed for the Collection and was amazed by the outcome of the shoot, which took four days to prepare:
 
“I am really pleased to be a part of this inspiring new art collection,” said Charlotte Church. “As well as being associated with some of the biggest names in Wales, it also gives me a great opportunity to show how proud I am to be Welsh.  I love the idea behind it, there is nothing like this in Wales already, and the fact that it is going to benefit sick children in Wales makes it all the more important.
 
“Credit has to go to Terry for his interpretation and creative ideas behind each image. His time and effort is reflected in the final picture, which is totally different to any photographs I have had taken previously. It is certainly worth waiting for and I was stunned when I saw it, but you will all have to wait to see it on the launch night!”

The closely guarded portraits will remain under wraps until the actual launch night which will take place at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre in November 2006, when the original signed Cool Cymru Collection will be auctioned to raise substantial funds for The Noah’s Ark Appeal. Suzanne Mainwaring, Director of the charity commented on what the photographic Collection means to The Noah’s Ark Appeal, which has recently launched its current campaign:

“We hope to raise a substantial amount of money as a result of the Cool Cymru Collection, which will boost our efforts in raising £200,000 for brand new equipment for the Children’s Eye Unit in Cardiff. This will revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of many retinal diseases and ensure children needing eye treatment no longer have to share eye equipment with the adult department. We are very pleased to be working with Terry and look forward to the launch night when we will hopefully be able to raise a five or even a six figure sum for The Noah's Ark Appeal."

In addition to raising substantial funds for charity, Terry Morris wants people in Wales to be given the opportunity to appreciate the artistic concepts behind each image. ITV will be documenting the creation of the portraits, ultimately producing a television programme to be aired in autumn 2006. The exhibition will also travel across Wales for all to enjoy following an initial four month exhibition at Wales Millennium Centre which has never before hosted a photographic show.

A cross section of businesses from Wales are already involved in this ground breaking new arts project, but there are further opportunities to back the Collection, its tour around Wales, and to help deliver a high profile launch night. To find out more, please contact Antonia Lamont or Catrin Mears, 029 2030 4050 or email: coolcymru@merlin.me.uk.