Owain Fon Williams may not have featured on the pitch during Wales’ successful Euro 2016 campaign in France, but the Caley Thistle goalkeeper’s contribution is certain to have a long-lasting effect.
His country’s achievement in reaching the semi-finals of the competition, which was Wales’ first major international tournament since 1958, inspired keen artist Fon Williams to capture the celebrations on canvas.
The work, which is a collaboration of Fon Williams’ favourite memories from the champion-ship finals, includes Gareth Bale doing the ‘viking clap’, Joe Ledley dancing and Aaron Ramsey showing off his peroxide blonde hair.
The painting also features the coaching staff, including Mark Evans, the man in charge of co-ordinating the team operations, being hoisted by two players.
Fon Williams has been flattered by the response to his art and will offer printed copies to all 23 members of the squad, with the original painting to be taken to the national library of Wales, where it will remain for a year, in March.
The 29-year-old, who provided back-up for first-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during the tournament, said: “I’m really happy with the way it’s gone and I’m delighted with the feedback I’ve had from it.
“This summer, the buzz that was there for Wales as a nation, for the players and for the supporters, it’s something they’ll never forget because it was a special moment. All I’ve done is try to capture that and what I experienced as a member of the team. I’ve tried to put it on a canvas.
“The ‘Together Stronger’ slogan that was with us at the time was massive.
“You can throw a slogan on anything but especially during that time in France, everyone couldsee the actual bond and togetherness. It was in place. A slogan can be very cheap but, in this case, it couldn’t be closer to the truth.
“It was taken from all different times of the Euros. The planning took ages because I wanted everyone to be in scale. This picture didn’t actually happen – but I can do whatever I want in a way.
“Just behind the players I’ve put the supporters in, all blurred in red, and it just shows the togetherness.
“Everyone really likes it. The difference with this one, compared to the other things I’ve painted, is that in the others you’re not putting as much detail into the faces because I’m not wanting it to look like real people. With these guys I had to get the fine brushes and oils out, to make sure they had a big enough nose or less hair.
“With footballers, if their hair is not right, they’re not happy. But the response has been fantastic so far.”
Fon Williams revealed he has been inundated with interest in his work and he added: “Out of the blue, I had a gallery in New York interested, but I’m taking it as it comes.
“I’m not thinking too much about it but it’s fantastic that people like it that much. There’s a gallery in north Wales that would like my work in the summer of 2018 and I’ve agreed to do something for them.
“It’s not at all stressful. I can’t be bothered watching the telly, so I’ll paint.
“If someone likes my work, then even better. Someone is getting the same enjoyment out of it that I am. That’s very rewarding that people do like what they see.
“When I was doing a painting of the quarrymen, in that area of Wales a lot of families had been working in the slate mines. It was quite nice to do that and the reaction from that, people were coming in saying they had dads and grandads that worked there.
“There was one painting I did outside the bandroom and it had a trombone in it. One woman came into the gallery with a baby trombone, which is what I’d painted. I had no idea about it but she said that her father won something and he played the trombone and he was a quarryman. She bought it and was over the moon with it. A little story like that is remarkable. It was made for her and I was delighted it went there.”