Martin Crampin

Dr Martin Crampin is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS), University of Wales, with over two decades of continuous service since joining in 1999. His work integrates academic research with visual artistry across major AHRC-funded projects including 'Visual Culture of Wales', 'Imaging the Bible in Wales', and 'Cult of Saints in Wales'.

His educational trajectory includes a BA, MA in Celto-Roman Studies from University of Wales College Newport, and a practice-based PhD from University of Wales focusing on medievalism in Welsh visual culture through artistic creation.

Crampin's research forms a cohesive exploration of Welsh visual identity across temporal boundaries. He pioneered the study of stained glass as a lens for understanding Welsh ecclesiastical art, particularly nineteenth-twentieth century revivals of Celtic-Christian ornamentation. His work bridges medieval decorative arts, saints' cults in Wales, and contemporary heritage interpretation through creative practice. Notably, he has been instrumental in digital humanities since the 1990s, developing foundational resources like the 'Stained Glass in Wales' catalogue and 'Monastic Wales' database that transform access to Welsh cultural heritage.

His publications reveal consistent methodological innovation, merging art historical analysis with digital scholarship and artistic practice. The 2014 monograph 'Stained Glass from Welsh Churches' and 2020 St David imagery study demonstrate interdisciplinary rigor in connecting material culture with national identity formation.

Key recognitions include:

• University of Wales Scholarship for doctoral research
• International recognition as Wales' leading stained glass specialist

Crampin has secured substantial research funding through Arts and Humanities Research Council grants while maintaining active creative practice. His current part-time role in the Interreg 'Ports, Past and Present' project extends his expertise in heritage interpretation through supporting ten creative practitioners across Irish and Welsh port communities.

As both researcher and practitioner, he operates at the intersection of academic scholarship and visual creation—photographing medieval artifacts, designing exhibition materials, and producing original artwork that reinterprets historical patterns. This dual practice defines his unique contribution to understanding Wales' visual heritage through both documentation and creative reinvention.