Buckley Gallery
Parc Howard Museum is a must-see for art lovers. Filled with works by some of the most important Welsh artists of the 20th Century, the Museum lives up to its description by locals as a “Treasure House.”
The Buckley Gallery is a great place to start. The walls of the elegant space are decorated with almost 50 paintings that explore a selection of themes. Some are very local in character, depicting well-known Llanelli sites, including the Stradey Castle estate and urban life. Others offer escapism, showing calming vistas from France and Spain, as well as the rural landscapes of Sir Gâr. And, if you’re feeling inspired, you’re welcome to use the easels around the room to create your own masterpiece.
More art at Parc Howard
Next to the Buckley Gallery is the Parc Howard Story gallery. Portraits of people with connections to Parc Howard line one side of the gallery all the way up the grand staircase to the first floor. However, on the opposite wall, you can’t miss the large landscape painting by Christopher Williams. This dramatic scene recreates the view from Dryslwyn Castle in the Tywi Valley across to the Bannau Brycheiniog beyond. It’s truly stunning.
On your way past portraits of the Buckley family, make sure to check out ‘Der Bittgang’, by Sir Hubert von Herkomer. The Bavarian-born artist painted a number of moving works of the conditions of the poor in 19th Century society during his early career. He was a great supporter of art in Llanelli and Wales through his friendship with Charles Mansel Lewis of Stradey Castle.
And did we mention that Llanelli is home to the oldest photographic society in Wales? Find out more about that story in the Imaginarium…
Step into the Buckley Gallery at Parc Howard Museum and explore seven inspiring groups of paintings that celebrate Llanelli and its links to the wider world. Begin with A World Beyond, where artists look past the River Loughor and Carmarthen Bay to horizons and seafaring routes. In A Sense of Place, discover the town’s striking mix of industry, countryside and coast, captured with pride in local heritage and people.
Love colour and detail? In Bloom gathers floral still lifes that find extraordinary beauty in the flowers on our doorstep. To Be Still invites you to slow down and notice how brushwork, layout and perspective can create a peaceful, reflective mood.
Chase atmosphere in The Magical Moment, inspired by Welsh landscapes and the changing play of light and shadow. Then head To the Sea for coastal scenes that shift from calm to drama, echoing Llanelli’s shoreline from working past to leisure-filled present.
Finally, Painting from Life brings faces and stories to the fore—portraits that reveal how sitters wished to be seen, and what the artists noticed. It’s a welcoming, family-friendly gallery with plenty to spot, talk about and imagine together. Pick a favourite, share your thoughts, and take your time wandering. You can even create your own masterpiece on the easels around the room or simply dress and up and have fun striking a pose for a portrait.