ON THE eve of the 70TH anniversary of the NHS a huge portrait of its founder has appeared on a mountainside in his home county.

Made entirely out of soil, the picture of Aneurin Bevan appeared overnight, on the moors of the highest village in Wales, Trefil, in Blaenau Gwent.

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Nathan Wyburn is behind the commemorative artwork, which is made entirely out of local materials, including 374kg of garden soil and 74kg of white stone dust from Gryphonn Quarries Limited, based in Trefil.

He said: "I’m extremely proud of this piece of work. Not only is it a fantastic tribute to one of the nation’s most loved institutions and its extraordinary staff who support and care for us day in, day out, but it’s also a celebration of where I’m from, Bevan’s home and the place where the NHS all began.

“The Valleys has so much to offer, from its rich heritage to the beautiful, green landscapes. The people are all so friendly and it’s such a refreshing change from the city.

“I can’t think of a more fitting location for the piece and I’m thrilled to have a played a part in bringing Nye Bevan back to The Valleys for the NHS’ 70th anniversary.”

Surrounded by grazing sheep, the visual representation of the former Welsh Labour politician is located amongst the foothills and moorlands where Bevan walked to rehearse his speeches and recite passages of literature to overcome his speech impediment during his fight for better healthcare.

The work part of the Love The Valleys campaign, which highlights the beauty, rich heritage and warm welcome available to visitors.

Cllr Alyson Tipping’s from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to reveal this magnificent portrait of Nye Bevan here in The Valleys to celebrate 70 years of the most wonderful gift to our nation, which stemmed from our home and continues to help those who need it most.

“We’re immensely proud of Nye and all that he accomplished, the NHS remains a cherished institution for the country just as Tredegar’s Nye, our Nye, will forever be Wales’s greatest hero”.

To catch a glimpse of Nathan Wyburn’s work head towards Trefil Quarry on Trefil Road, Tredegar.

To find out more about The Valleys’ Aneurin Bevan portrait or the Wales Valleys Walking Festival visit thevalleys.co.uk or follow @LoveTheValleys on Twitter and Facebook.