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In this painting, I wanted to capture the striking character of the Pierhead Building, one of Cardiff’s most iconic landmarks. Often referred to as "Wales' Red House," this Grade I listed building stands as a bold testament to the city’s industrial heritage, its vibrant terracotta facade glowing against the backdrop of Cardiff Bay.

In my work, I’ve focused on the play of light across the water and the rich, warm tones of the brickwork. By contrasting the intricate, Neo-Gothic architecture of the 1897 building with the sleek, modern curves of the nearby Senedd and Wales Millennium Centre, I aimed to reflect the meeting of old and new that defines the Bay today. The presence of the boats in the foreground adds a sense of movement and life, grounding this historic monument in its natural maritime setting.

As an artist living and working in Cardiff, I’m constantly struck by how much the Welsh light dictates my mood. One minute the city is washed in this brilliant, piercing gold, and the next, a heavy grey mist rolls in off the Bristol Channel and everything turns inward. It’s that constant flux, that feeling of the atmosphere shifting around you, that really sparked the idea for Shared Soul.

This triptych is a core part of my Three Lifetimes collection. I didn’t just want to paint three pretty pictures; I wanted to map out the messy, beautiful, and sometimes exhausting journey of a single soul. We all like to think of our lives as a straight line, but in reality, we’re constantly cycling through different emotional climates.

Part 1 is all about that initial burst of raw energy. I went quite heavy with the digital "paint" here, using a real explosion of colour and movement. To me, this is the soul at its most vibrant, untethered, loud, and full of life. It’s that feeling of waking up and sensing that everything is possible, captured in those warm, almost frantic Impressionistic strokes.

Then, there’s Part 2. I felt it was important to be honest about the quieter, harder miles we all have to walk. I stripped the colour away entirely, moving into a monochromatic, urban landscape that feels a bit more desolate and grit-edged. It’s that "shadow" phase where life feels a bit like a grind. But if you look closely, there’s a real sense of structural strength in the composition. It’s about that quiet resilience we find when we’re forced to stand our ground in the rain.

Part 3 is where the breath finally comes back. I turned to the coast for this one because there’s something about a sea sunset that just feels like a resolution. The light softens, the edges of the world blur, and that heavy urban grit gives way to something much more ethereal. It’s the "after", the peace and clarity that only comes after you’ve navigated the noise of the first two chapters.

I see these three pieces as one continuous conversation. They belong together because they represent the full spectrum of what it means to be alive and moving through time. My hope is that when you hang these on your wall, they don't just sit there as decor, I want them to feel like a reflection of your own story, a reminder that no matter which "weather" you're currently in, the light is always changing.

Set of three pieces. This series of digital paintings by Cardiff-based artist maccb71Art, titled One Soul, part of my Three Lifetimes collection, utilizes a dramatic evolution of light, weather, and color to explore the journey of a single soul across different emotional and temporal landscapes.

Part 1 presents a scene of vibrant clarity and youthful stoicism. Bathed in the high, uncompromising sun of a mid-day beach, the shirtless figure stands against a backdrop of turquoise waves. The warm, painterly strokes highlight his powerful physique, suggesting a "lifetime" defined by physical presence and the deceptive simplicity of a clear horizon. His direct, calm gaze toward the viewer anchors the piece, representing a moment of peak vitality before the inevitable shifts of fate.

Part 2 shifts the narrative into a somber, introspective "lifetime" of shadow. The bright sands are replaced by a dark, rocky coastline under a heavy, moonlit sky. The figure, now clad in denim, looks downward, his posture suggesting a weight of experience or perhaps a period of mourning. The cool, muted blues and deep grays create a sense of isolation and quiet resilience. Here, the artist explores the internal landscape, where the strength previously used for action is now turned inward to weather a personal storm.

Part 3 serves as the series' climactic "lifetime," depicting a state of transcendence amidst chaos. The figure stands in a golden-hued storm, his hair windswept and his face turned upward toward a tumultuous, light-streaked sky. The thick, energetic brushwork and the interplay of amber and charcoal tones suggest a moment of ultimate reckoning or liberation. By placing the subject in the heart of the elements, maccb71Art captures the raw beauty of a spirit that has endured the sun and the shadows, finally finding a fierce, defiant peace within the tempest itself.

Which of these three "lifetimes" do you feel captures the most powerful emotion?

Captured in this painting is the striking facade of Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru (the Wales Millennium Centre), an architectural icon of Cardiff Bay. Known for its copper-colored steel dome and the powerful inscriptions carved into its glass, the building is a celebration of Welsh heritage and creative spirit.

In my work, I wanted to emphasize the bold, sweeping curves and the unique texture of the "slate" and metal materials that define its structure. By focusing on the dramatic upward angle, I’ve aimed to mirror the sense of ambition and inspiration the Centre represents. The play of light across the golden panels brings out the warmth of the building, set against the backdrop of the historic Pierhead Building and the modern Ferris wheel, bridging the gap between Cardiff’s rich past and its vibrant present.