A WREXHAM-based photographer has secured a grant from Arts Council Wales to carry out research and development on a major community project.

Wrexham Treasures is a community based project by Rona Campbell, a professional photographer and writer from Wrexham.

She has secured a grant from the Arts Council Wales to conduct research into the project which will allow her to meet locals who have 'a treasure' - something to offer to Wrexham's history.

Rona is keen to meet Wrexham citizens at the Markers' Space at Ty Pawb, Chester St, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. 

She is  particularly interested in hearing the story behind how you acquired your treasure and why it is so important. Please bring your treasure with you but if is too large, bring a photograph.

She said: "Do you have a treasure, that you never want to lose? This could be a family heir loom, something you found, or were given, which could add to Wrexham’s history."

There have already been some exciting possessions which people have brought her, including a well travelled 46 year old international jet setting teddy bear who accompanied his solicitor owner on business trips.

Then there is the collection of slides brought in by a son whose father worked on the furnaces at Brymbo steelworks and photographed them. Someone else brought vinyl singles in a frame of two pop favourites, The Small Faces and Joe Cocker.

Of course for some people, their treasure is something they have made. This is the case for the woman who has created beautiful jewellery out of shells collected on a New Zealand beach. Another treasure made by its owner, is a neural style transfer with the help of A I which, has led to the creation of ‘Steam Punk Cat.’

One treasure made by its owner now hangs in the Magic Dragon Pub in Wrexham and was made out of the arms of an old leather chair.

Of her own work, Rona said:  "The whole thing when I go out with my camera is I’m treasure hunting. All my work is of treasures I find as I hunt the natural life around me."

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In her project, funded by Arts Council Wales, she is delighted that Claire Griffiths and Anna Gallen of Explore will help her research the treasures of Wrexham trees and the wonders of how fungi support them.

The three of them will be exploring such issues in Northop which will be filmed by Dr Karen Heald, Head of photography at Wrexham University.

On Friday 24 November Rona will be meeting the Knit and Natter group at Ruabon Library to chat about their treasures. She also hopes that people will feel free to pop in and see her at The Maker’s Space in Ty Pawb where she is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.