ONE of an artist’s biggest fans has paid for his work to be displayed at Monmouthshire council’s headquarters.

Cllr Maureen Powell asked Ieuan Hatherall, an ex-pupil of Abergavenny’s King Henry VIII School, to paint a scene of the county to display in the entrance of County Hall, Usk.

This was after he created a painting of the Skirrid for her husband John’s birthday.

The Monmouthshire artwork is due to be installed before this month’s full council meeting.

Cllr Powell said: “I have bought it out of my own money and put it on permanent loan to the council.

“A few years ago when I was first a governor at King Henry VIII school, I attended an exhibition of the pupils’ art and craft. I was so impressed with Ieuan’s talent, it stood out as exceptional.”

When Cllr Powell was council chairman last year, one of her fundraising events was an exhibition of Ieuan’s work at the Shire Hall.

She asked him to paint Monmouthshire’s scenery over the Severn Bridge, not wanting to single out any town in particular.

“I hope that it will give pleasure to those visiting County Hall in the future,” added the councillor for Castle Ward in Abergavenny.

Ieuan is studying auto design at college but continues to paint in his spare time.