This series sees presenter Gus Casley-Hayford, cultural historian and unabashed art fanatic, taking the audience on a journey into the scenes of some of the UK’s most loved landscape paintings in the company of some of our nation’s favourite personalities.
The story of Josef Herman is an incredible tale of a Jewish refugee who came to Britain in the 40s after fleeing Nazi oppression on the continent. One day in 1944, he visited the mining town of Ystradgynlais for a short holiday and felt so inspired by the local mining community that he decided to settle there for the next 11 years.
Starting at the Tate, Michael and Gus make their way to Ystradgynlais, Wales, where Josef first arrived in 1944, discovering the daily life of the world of mining that Herman dedicated his life documenting. They hear the colourful stories and discover the traditions of the local communities and come across a treasure trove full of original art works by the great man.
