The Village

Hardback  | 160 pages  |  200 x 200mm
Publication 4 November 2021 |  ISBN 9781802580488

Llangwm, in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, huddles around an inlet of the Cleddau Estuary. Sitting at the end of a minor road, its isolation over many generations has engendered a strong sense of communal self-sufficiency. With its church, two chapels, post office, pub, rugby and cricket clubs, school, an annual literary festival, choir and a host of other societies, it bustles with life. David Wilson lives and works in Llangwm and since 2019 has been photographing people at home, at work and at play, capturing their stories and contributions, as well as the landscape and environment in the immediate area. Through David's intimate photography and conversations with local people, The Village  offers a snapshot not just of its subject but of a community whose feel is universal.

David Wilson is among Wales’s most established photographers, well known for his black and white images that uniquely evoke the character and atmosphere of the nation’s landscapes. His work with Graffeg includes the photographic studies Pembrokeshire and Wales: A Photographer’s Journey, Hinterland: Ceredigion Landscapes and A Year in Pembrokeshire, with broadcaster Jamie Owen.

'In a way, the images collected in The Village are snapshots of a past that already feels distant, despite being taken only two years ago; sadly, some people featured have since passed away. Yet these affectionate portraits of people and places serve as an even more powerful tribute to the value of community than they did then, telling “a story of hope, continuity and the unconquerable human spirit” that we need to hear now more than ever.' Ben Woolhead, Buzz Magazine

'An emotionally charged time capsule making the reader appreciate the small moments and gestures that make a life story.' Tasmin, Biba Florence Reads

'David’s images capture the soul of Llangwm’s tight knit former fishing community. These images are all the more important because many of them were taken during lock-down. It is amazing to look back and see how far we’re advanced from there and how the human spirit can triumph over adversity.' Michael Pugh, Director of the Llangwm Literary Festival.