National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Shorelands, Malltraeth: snow, swans, gulls and Nomad
Wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe and his wife Winifred lived at 'Shorelands', Malltraeth, Anglesey, surrounded by birds, river and sea.
From the collection of:
Overview
Artist Charles Tunnicliffe and his wife, Winifred, also an artist, moved to Anglesey in 1947. Overlooking the Cefni estuary, with pools created by an embankment built in 1811 to reclaim land, their home – 'Shorelands' at Malltraeth - doubled as a hide, affording spectacular views of the resident and migrant bird life. Tunnicliffe here catches footage of gulls feeding in flocks on their patio and wall, the flapping of their wings a sight to behold.
It was evident from a young age that Tunnicliffe (1901-79) had a gift for drawing. From a farm in Cheshire he won scholarships to the Macclesfield School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London. He worked as an etcher/engraver, a teacher and an illustrator for Ladybird books and Brooke Bond tea cards. He also illustrated books by e.g. Alison Uttley and Henry Williamson. He married Winifred Wonnacott (1902-69), a fellow RCA scholarship student from Holywood, Belfast, who became a ceramicist/teacher. Friends included naturalists T G 'Wack' Walker, Norman 'Nomad' Ellison (whose books Tunnicliffe illustrated and who is seen here), Ted Breeze Jones (also a photographer) and artist Kyffin Williams.
Related
Ponies (Cable Bay) and Posies (Shorelands, Malltraeth) Ponies (Cable Bay) and Posies (Shorelands, Malltraeth)
Home movie 1955 3 mins Silent Location: Malltraeth
Artist Charles Tunnicliffe’s cinematic ‘sketches’, include shots of a dredger and a horse-drawn cart on the Cefni estuary.
Landmarks and Seagulls Landmarks and Seagulls
Home movie 1955 4 mins Silent Location: Aberffraw
Charles F Tunnicliffe’s artist’s eye informs this footage he caught on camera of birds and bridges, clouds and snow.
Malltraeth: birds observed Malltraeth: birds observed
Home movie 1955 3 mins Silent Location: Malltraeth
Anglesey-based artist Charles Tunnicliffe swaps brushes for a camera and offers us the chance to look a cormorant in its emerald-green eye.
Malltraeth and Menai Bridge Horse Fair Malltraeth and Menai Bridge Horse Fair
Home movie 1950 3 mins Silent Location: Malltraeth
Anglesey-based artist Charles Tunnicliffe records some of the island's wonders which include turkeys, Ty Newydd and horse mane plaiting!
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.