March 2026

When Nique Spencer (above right) joined L’Arche Brecon as a Live-In Assistant in 2020, he lived and worked with people with and without learning disabilities in Glasfryn House. One of his housemates was an autistic man called Gareth Bain (left), who people in L’Arche simply know as Gar. Since retiring, he has continued to stay in touch with Gar as a friend and support him to develop as an artist. 

During my time in Glasfryn, Gar and I regularly did art together. Gar is a Brecon man born and bred, who has lived in Glasfryn for more than 30 years. He also enjoys drawing and painting – and I was very happy to support him in his creative endeavours.

As we thought about how I could stay involved with L’Arche after I retired, one idea was to carry on supporting Gar with his art. We started meeting up every Wednesday morning, before adding in a second session on Sunday mornings as well.

Art makes me happy. Giving pictures to my friends and my family makes them happy. That makes me happy too. Gar 

When we meet, Gar and I discuss what he will create, using which medium, and for whom. He generally then spends several sessions creating the piece. Sometimes, he asks me to contribute as well, so I will draw or paint with him – and we create the piece jointly. He draws and paints using acrylic, oil pastels, felt pens and crayons. Both of us enjoy these sessions, not only the creative process but each other’s company too, and deepening the friendship between us. After each session we share a pot of tea.

Gar uses his art to express his emotions, how he is feeling in the moment, or how he has felt in the past. He relates different colours with different emotions – for example, blue is the colour of happiness.

I thought that it would be good to have a project for us both to work on, so it was arranged that Gar would have an exhibition of his works at the local theatre. He produced 12 pieces that were framed and hung in the foyer in the theatre. He sold 6 of the 12 pieces. It also raised both Gar’s profile and that of L’Arche Brecon within the local community.

Gar gives many of his pieces away, to family members, friends and members of the L’Arche community. He has told me that he knows that when he gives his art to people it makes them happy and making other people makes him happy. He has also told me that when he is feeling sad or lonely he looks at his art and restores himself and his happiness.

By staying an active part of the L’Arche Community I get an awful lot: friendship and companionship, a sense of worth and doing something worthwhile. But the greatest thing I receive is Gar’s friendship and love.