ONE of the largest exhibitions of work related to poet Dylan Thomas is coming to Art Central, Barry's international gallery.

To commemorate the life and work of Dylan Thomas, an exhibition of paintings, etchings, prints and other mediums has been gathered together for the centennial celebration of the prestigious poet's birth in Swansea on October 27, 1914.

All of the works have been inspired by his words, poems and life. This exhibition opens in Wales just as London launches their Dylan Thomas centenary celebrations with a tour of Dylan’s old haunts and an exhibition by Welsh artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, which opens at Coningsby Gallery, London.

The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, has this year celebrated with a permanent exhibition about Thomas’ life with the annual Dylan Thomas Festival taking place during October and November. Wales and the arts are certainly being placed on the map thanks to this distinguished poet’s legacy.

"The Art of Dylan Thomas" has been curated by Tony Curtis, Emeritus Professor of Poetry at the University of South Wales.

Curtis grew up in Carmarthen during Dylan Thomas’ final years, was awarded the Dylan Thomas Prize for Spoken Poetry and has published over thirty books including eight collections of poetry.

This unique exhibition has works by celebrated artists including Ceri Richards, some of whose works have never been shown publicly and include original studies for the Dylan Thomas suite of lithographs from 1965 - "And Death Shall Have No Dominion" and "The Crooked Rose".

There are also works by leading Welsh artists John Selway, Robert Alwyn Hughes, Andrea Kelland, Mary Husted, Ceri Thomas and two series of work by artists from Swansea Print Workshop.

A talk by Professor Tony Curtis is taking place at Art Central Gallery on Thursday, September 18 commencing at 7pm.

If you would like to attend contact Arts Development on 01446 709805 or email artinthevale@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. The exhibition is on show Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, until Saturday, October 4.

To discover more about Art Central Gallery Exhibitions visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/artcentral.