{"id":95420,"date":"2025-03-14T12:42:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T12:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=95420"},"modified":"2025-03-19T19:52:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:52:00","slug":"the-cardiff-street-artist-using-spray-paint-to-help-overcome-tragic-week-that-derailed-his-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2025\/03\/14\/the-cardiff-street-artist-using-spray-paint-to-help-overcome-tragic-week-that-derailed-his-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cardiff street artist using spray painting to help overcome trauma and loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8216;Art came as therapy at a time when I needed it,&#8217; said Gavin Thomas, 52<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>YOU might have seen Gavin Thomas spray painting colourful images of space&nbsp;and nature outside the closed down Dorothy Perkins store on Queen Street.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His simple but striking images of space scenery are propped up against the temporary boards errected around the former department store.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Somerset-born Gavin originally came to South Wales to study at arts in Pontypridd. He earned his living working in construction and as a landscape gardener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But six years ago, the 52-year-old was living with his partner in Roath when their child was still-born six months into the pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a few days later, Gavin and his partner were evicted from their home as they couldn\u2019t afford a rent increase, he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was left feeling completely depressed. I also felt disempowered for not having enough money,\u201d Gavin said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"718\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1024x718.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-770x540.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1536x1076.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-293x205.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1400x981.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"718\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1024x718.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-770x540.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1536x1076.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-293x205.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1-1400x981.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/b9cad029-ae9c-45d3-a8b3-405593d1de1c-2-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Gavin Thomas displays his spray art outside the closed down Dorothy Perkins store on Queen Street.<\/strong>&nbsp;Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before his&nbsp;child passed away,&nbsp;Gavin worked between Cardiff and his hometown of Minehead, but his traumatic&nbsp;week left&nbsp;him unable to work&nbsp;and he found himself in receipt of Universal Credit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2008, after leaving university, Gavin went to art school in Cyprus while in his 20s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After his life changed, Gavin fell back on his art education to move forwards with his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI always wanted to pursue something creative like art. After I left university in Pontypridd, I never found a job in life which suited me,\u201d Gavin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;After my child passed, my partner started to give me art lessons and I learned how to spray paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It came as therapy at a time when I needed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-770x525.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-500x341.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-293x200.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-770x525.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-500x341.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/788b73e4-b358-47d9-a632-7905848ac198-1-1-1024x768-1-1-293x200.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>&#8220;Art came as therapy at a time when I needed it.&#8221;<\/strong> Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy partner&#8217;s friend had also gifted me a space painting, which hit me at an emotional time. It amazed me how much you could get out of spray paints.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin is no longer with the partner with whom he lost the child, but they still support each other, he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by his partner, Gavin started to spray paint his own pictures and sell them on the street. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My paintings are mostly space-themed, but I also do landscape paintings,&#8221; said Gavin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI mix my colours while using paper to prevent over-spray.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/1-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>&#8220;My paintings are mostly space themed, but I also do landscape paintings,&#8221; said Gavin.<\/strong> Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/3-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>It takes Gavin less than 30 minutes to paint an image.<\/strong> Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When Gavin was in school in Minehead, his art teacher told him he needed to look at life with \u201ca new set of eyes.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat stuck with me,\u201d the 52-year-old said. \u201cIt originally made me lose confidence in art, and I became frustrated by the time it took to paint.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut now, before I pick up my cans of spray paint, I think of my life experiences, and I use my emotions to guide&nbsp;what I paint. I can paint one in less than 30 minutes.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"737\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1024x737.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1024x737.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-770x555.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-293x211.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1400x1008.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab.jpg 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1024x737.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1024x737.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-770x555.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-293x211.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab-1400x1008.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/d0fecab1-1c55-4db4-95fc-641ad56fb6ab.jpg 1501w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Gavin&#8217;s paintings are inspired by his lived experiences of trauma.<\/strong> Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin gets his paints from an art shop called Scott Off The Press on Church Street.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI carry them around in a pram, which I find efficient,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Sometimes people stop to look at my work, mostly other artists and children with their parents.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/IMG_3739_optimized_1000-1024x768-1-293x220.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>&#8220;Sometimes people stop to look at my work, mostly other artists and children with their parents.&#8221;<\/strong> Credit: Benedict Elliot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin lives on the donations he receives for the paintings and, despite recently losing his Universal Credit benefits, he dreams of making a living from art. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;If I didn&#8217;t carry on my art, I don&#8217;t know how I would have survived,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d love to have my own studio or an art cafe, instead of sitting in front of a closed-up shop all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to make sales without the right resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo many talented artists can\u2019t sell their work&nbsp;because they can\u2019t advertise it. They\u2019ll either keep it as a hobby or give up.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf everybody was given a chance in life, they would thrive.\u201d&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"562\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1024x562.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-770x423.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1536x843.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-293x161.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1400x768.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1024x562.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-770x423.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1536x843.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-293x161.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/03\/c4771160-7ba1-4802-9c7a-08d38d65258c-1-1400x768.jpg 1400w, 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