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Former Llanelli Star lensman focuses on Welsh legends for Hall of Fame

A former Llanelli Star photographer is putting together a photographic Hall of Fame for Wales – to raise money for the country’s dedicated children’s hospital.

Terry Morris, who now works as a freelance, is busy capturing portraits of 12 of Wales’ most famous faces, including Tom Jones, Charlotte Church, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ryan Giggs, Rhys Ifans and Gavin Henson.

The Cool Cymru Photographic Collection, will be unveiled at Wales Millennium Centre in November.

Terry has already completed seven portraits, the latest being Dame Shirley Bassey, and he says each one depicts the individual’s personality in a way which has never been seen before.

Gavin Henson is pictured as a caged lion, Dame Shirley Bassey posed with a million pounds worth of diamonds at her bare feet and Charlotte Church dressed up as a Lara Croft-style sci-fi babe.

Terry said: “Each portrait tells the story behind the individual, illustrating their personality through the art of photography.

“I began my career as a photographer working for the press and public relations firms, but challenging myself with creating the Hall of Fame, it has given me scope for greater creativity, personal interpretation, freedom and expression.

“I want to create pictures which will be debated and show Wales’ most recognised faces in a new light.”

The portraits are being kept under wraps until the launch of the exhibition, and original signed copies of the pictures will then be auctioned to raise money for The Noah’s Ark Appeal, which was set up to build, eqip and support the first dedicated children’s hospital for Wales.

The first phase of the hospital was opened last year, and it is now aiming to raise £200,000 for new equipment for the Children’s Eye Unit in Cardiff.

A book accompanying the exhibition is also being put together and will be sold to raise money for the appeal.

And ITV is filming Terry for a documentary about the project, which will be broadcast in the Autumn.

The exhibition will be on display at Wales Millennium Centre for four months, before going on a tour of Wales.