“I’ve always been fascinated by Welsh folklore – the stories, the landscapes and the people who once lived there.”
Welsh illustrator and writer Efa Lois explores the rich folklore, customs and landscapes that shape Welsh cultural identity. Originally from Aberystwyth and fluent in both Welsh and English, her work draws deeply on the stories, myths and histories woven through the country’s communities. Her debut book Gwrachod Cymru / Welsh Witches brings together the tales of more than one hundred women from Welsh folklore.
What first sparked your interest in Welsh folklore and folk customs?
I’ve always been interested in Welsh folklore – even when I was a child creating papier-mache jewellery and wooden spoon puppets based on the Mabinogi. My artwork throughout my time in school was involved in Welsh myth, and my interest continued as I developed my illustration career. My work has portrayed the characters and stories of the Mabinogi, Welsh saints, as well as local folklore and folk customs. I’m interested in what folk customs, and local ‘llawr gwlad’ folklore tell us about places in Wales – their history, their plants and landscapes, and the people who once lived there.
In your debut book, Welsh Witches, you share the stories of over 100 Welsh witches. Were there any particular ones that stood out to you and will stay with you?
I think every story is important, as it tells us something about that town or village, attitudes towards women, or that natural landscape. However, the stories of Lowri and Sian Owen, Pampetris, the Witches of Llanddewi Brefi, and of course, The Witches of Aberystwyth, are ones that immediately spring to mind.
Why do you think it’s so important to have these stories told?
I think these stories are fascinating because you can see the same themes repeated across Wales, in areas that may have no obvious connection to one another. They tell us about how people treated one another, and how they perceived women. In my writing, I’ve tried to instil the natural landscape in which each woman lived and breathed also, as these are stories of both places and people.
Do you have any plans for other books you’d want to write?
I do feel that there’s so much more that I’d like to write about, but I’ve got a busy year ahead of me in 2026. I would love to work with Seren again on another folklore and folk customs book though, and we’ve been discussing a few ideas!
Do you have a particular creative process? What do you draw inspiration from?
I love to carve out time on weekend mornings, to write or draw with a cup of tea before the world wakes up. But my main inspiration to be creative is the natural world, and reading about the lives of other artists, and visiting art galleries.
I love to see the work of Welsh artists that I’ve long admired their work – Nina Hamnett, Ceri Richards, Mary Lloyds Jones, Gwen John, James Dickson Innes, and Cedric Morris. I also get inspiration from a lot of wonderful creatives working in Wales today – I’ve got works in my house by Ella Bua Ceramics, Peter Bodenham, Lilly Hedley, and clothing designed and made by Studio VSM in Newcastle-Emlyn.
In the book I write about the natural world front and centre, and this is such an important part of my own life. Learning to recognise birds, leaves, plants and fungi has brought me so much peace and inspiration.
Tell us more about your illustrations.
The Welsh Witches project started back in 2019, so the book was 6 years in the making! The illustrations in that project began with a strong mid-century graphic theme, which has since evolved over time. I drew over 100 illustrations as part of the project, and so their style developed as the project evolved to include more and more women.
Find out more about Efa Lois’ debut novel, Gwrachod Cymru / Welsh Witches and where you can buy a copy, on the Seren Books website here.
