Angharad Tomos

Angharad Tomos (born 19 July 1958) is a Welsh author and prominent language activist. She is a recipient of the Tir na n-Og Award.

Biography Tomos was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, in 1958, and raised with her four sisters in Llanwnda near Caernarfon. She attended Ysgol Gynradd Bontnewydd and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle. She began her higher education at Aberystwyth University, but left prior to completing her studies to go and work for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg. She later graduated in Welsh and Sociology from Bangor University and went on to receive an MA.

Tomos is married to Ben Gregory and lives in Pen-y-Groes, Gwynedd.

Writing Tomos contributed much to Welsh-language children's literature. She won the Crown at Eisteddfod yr Urdd in 1982, with Hen Fyd Hurt, which can be translated as "Silly Old World" and contains Tomos's reflections on her experience when unemployed. The protagonist Heulwen, who has no job, takes drawing lessons, as did Tomos herself.

The children's books she has written and illustrated include the Rwdlan (To prattle) series of 13 self-illustrated volumes set in Gwlad y Rwla. It received the Tir na n-Óg prize. Rala Rwdins, the first title in the series, appeared as Y Lolfa in 1983. Later on, there were television and theatre adaptations of scripts she had written. The series has been translated into Irish and Breton.

In 1985 Tomos won an Academi Gymreig prize for her novel Yma o Hyd about prison life, which she experienced at Risley Prison for actions whilst campaigning for the Welsh language.

On 24 September 2009, a ceramic sculpture of Tomos was unveiled at Parc Glynllifon, near Caernarfon, the third in a series of six by Welsh artist Katie Scarlett Howard as part of the Budding Artists' "Woman of Substance" project.

Tomos's works make frequent use of autobiographical elements, philosophical discussions, satire and humour. She refers to Welsh cultural heritage, such as myths, heroes and heroines, songs and poetry, all set in a broader global context. Her novels feature a personal writing style especially in descriptions of ordinary life shown from an often satirical or humorous perspective. Her writing applies elements of pidginisation and local dialect that give a sense of Welsh linguistic and cultural authenticity.

Her themes portray a world troubled by lack of equality, notably a lack of equal chances to develop potential. She advocates change in human rights, and so goes beyond the Welsh context into global perspectives.

Other genres in which she has written include travel literature, television scripts, drama (Cyffes, 1994), drama and prose criticism, autobiography (Cnonyn Aflonydd, 2001), newspaper columns and journal writing (especially political and literary).

Language activism Tomos was chairwoman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith from 1982 to 1984, during the launch of the campaigns for a Welsh Language Act and a body to develop Welsh medium education.