A NORWEGIAN vessel wrecked off the Pembrokeshire coast more than a century ago has inspired a new art exhibition at the Torch Theatre.

Professional artist Warren Heaton, from Pembrokeshire, will exhibit his paintings at the Joanna Field Gallery this June in a show titled Ragna – the link that connects two coastal communities.

The exhibition tells the story of the Norwegian vessel Ragna, which was wrecked at Aberfelin in 1900, and the dramatic rescue carried out by villagers from Trefin.

Warren, who has a gallery and studio in Solva, said the idea grew from conversations in the village while he and his wife Helen were living in Trefin.

He said: “My wife and I were living in Trefin when I got talking about the project with Andy and Richard over a pint at the Ship Inn.

“We arranged a small re-enactment down at Aberfelin. The villagers all dressed up and posed for me to photograph, and then paint. That’s where it all started.”

Warren and Helen, who live in Llangwm, have strong links to the sea. Helen has recently completed a row across the Atlantic, and maritime history and coastal communities are central themes in Warren’s work.

He added: “We’re trying to take the exhibition all over Pembrokeshire and eventually to Cardiff and maybe even Norway.

“So far it’s been to St Davids, Fishguard and Trefin Museum, but to take it to Norway would be amazing, as that is where the Ragna originated from.”

The Ragna Art Exhibition – the link that connected two coastal communities features paintings by Warren Heaton, interpretation panels by Richard Cotton and sound design by Andy Wheddon. It also features Mari-Anne Maddocks and Eleanor Bennett.

The exhibition can be seen at the Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre, from Wednesday (Jun 3) to Monday, June 29, during Box Office opening hours.

For further information visit torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.

Wellness festival ranked in top ten must-visit outdoor events for 2026 by national outdoor experts

NARBERTH’S popular Big Retreat Festival has been named one of the UK’s must-visit outdoor festivals this summer in a nationwide study by outdoor retailer GO Outdoors.

The festival, held annually at Lawrenny near Narberth, ranked tenth in a list of the country’s best outdoor and adventure-led festivals for 2026, scoring 7.11 out of ten.

Researchers at GO Outdoors analysed a range of factors including ticket prices, social media popularity, Google search volumes, family-friendliness, camping availability, festival length and even average rainfall to compile the rankings.

The Big Retreat Festival was praised for offering a family-friendly experience, camping facilities and a packed three-day programme focused on wellbeing, music, fitness, food and nature.

The Pembrokeshire-based event sits alongside some of the UK’s best-known outdoor gatherings in the rankings, including Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, Festival of Nature in Bristol and Swim Serpentine in London.

According to the study, The Big Retreat generated more than 12,000 annual Google searches and thousands of social media mentions, helping secure its place in the national top ten.

The festival, which has grown steadily in popularity since launching, attracts visitors from across the UK to west Wales, combining yoga, wild swimming, inspirational talks, live music, fitness sessions and family activities in the Pembrokeshire countryside.

A spokesperson for GO Outdoors said the rankings were designed to help people choose the best outdoor festivals to enjoy during the summer months, as more Britons look to spend time outdoors and embrace nature-focused experiences.

Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire took the top spot overall, scoring 9.47 out of ten, while The Big Retreat was the only Pembrokeshire festival to make the national top ten.

The Big Retreat Festival takes place at Lawrenny Estate near Narberth and has become one of west Wales’ biggest wellness and lifestyle events, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

FINANCIAL backing of this year’s Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire, to the tune of £73,000, with a potential budget of up to £200,000, has been approved by senior councillors.

The 2026 Eisteddfod, running from August 1-8 at Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire, holds particular historical significance as it marks the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod, held in 1176 at Castell Aberteifi.

With this year’s Maes located close to the original site, the event is expected to be a landmark occasion for the region and for Wales as a whole.

The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe and one of the most prominent events in the Welsh cultural calendar, attracting approximately 175,000 visitors annually.

The festival celebrates Welsh language, literature, music, and the arts, with a diverse programme of competitions, performances, exhibitions, and community activities.

The Eisteddfod proclamation took place in Narberth last May, with hundreds attending.

At the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to approve Pembrokeshire County Council to lead and deliver Pentre’r Garreg Las at the National Eisteddfod 2026.

Cabinet was also asked to approve the current financial commitment of approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), noting that further costs will be finalised as the programme develops, and endorse collaborative arrangements with Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire County Councils.

A budget for up to £200,000 for the promotion of the event is also being pencilled in; members hearing it was hoped this figure would be a ceiling of potential costs, with hopes the council’s part could be lowered by external funding.

A report for members, presented by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Safeguarding and the Welsh Language Cllr Alistair Cameron, said: “The National Eisteddfod is Europe’s largest travelling cultural festival, attracting up to 170,000 visitors annually and providing a nationally significant platform for the celebration of Welsh language, culture and identity.

“As lead authority, Pembrokeshire is responsible for the overall coordination, planning and funding of the Pentre. This includes the development of the overarching concept, the curation of a coherent thematic programme, and the management of key relationships with partner authorities, stakeholders and delivery partners.”

It went on to say: “While initial site, infrastructure and concept costs have been identified at approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), it is recognised that the full delivery of Pentre’r Garreg Las, as a flagship offer led by Pembrokeshire, will necessitate a broader major events budget estimated in the region of £200,000. The funding for this is coming from the current major events budget with additional funding coming from the initiative fund reserve.”

The report said efforts will be made to maximise external funding opportunities in order to mitigate the net cost to the council.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Pembrokeshire to showcase  the best of this county,” adding: “The last time it was here was 2004, we get to see this opportunity maybe every 20 years, it’s down to us to make the best of the opportunity, overall it’s a fantastic story for us as a county.”

A full budget breakdown is expected at the July Cabinet meeting, members agreeing to back the recommendations.