Since the 18th century Wales has been a Mecca for amateur and professional artists seeking picturesque landscapes. Artists such as Julius Caeser Ibbetson (1759-1817) and John "Warwick" Smith (1749-1831) were induced to portray the beauty of the nearby Hafod estate in 1792. Before the end of that century J.M.W. Turner created his misty and mysterious impression of the Hafod mansion.
Remoteness and inaccessibility meant few ventured into mid-Wales, an exception being the drawing master John Varley (1778-1842) a founder member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours (now the Royal Watercolour Society), who exhibited in 1807 a view of Devil's Bridge and Hafod Arms. His well-known brother, Cornelius, produced some of his best work in Wales. David Cox (1783-1859), a pupil of John Varley, stopped over in Aberystwyth in 1805 whilst on an art commission and around 1836 produced a drawing of Devil's Bridge and a watermill on the Teifi, for published work "Wanderings in South Wales".
The subjects chosen by those old masters still exist providing any professional artist or dabbling amateur with an abundance of subjects. The abbey ruins with the mountain backdrop, provide innumerable romantic aspects and prospects.
Art groups are especially welcome. The Auction Room can be made available where outdoor sketches can be worked up, still life subjects painted during inclement weather, or used for talks or instruction on art techniques. Local artists also hang there work here.
There are many subjects for photographers also from coast and dunes to forest and mountain.