8:20am Friday 26th February 2010
TONIGHT, Wales rugby captain Ryan Jones will lead out his men into the goldfish bowl of the Millennium Stadium to face France in a crunch Six Nations match.
The Newport-born player lives much of his life in the public eye.
So a former Bassaleg Comprehensive schoolfriend has painted what the national skipper would look like if his head actually was inside a goldfish bowl.
Tom Hovey, 27, of Compton Close, Rogerstone, created the image for an exhibition at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre showcasing the best of emerging and established artists in Wales.
The Big Residency runs throughout March with the aim of celebrating Welsh culture.
Admiral Insurance worker Mr Hovey is a graduate of the Arts University College at Bournemouth.
He said: "Welsh rugby stars being in a goldfish bowl is a comment used quite a lot, with them unable to get away from the media attention. This work reflects the passion and pressure they are under."
Mr Hovey said Ryan Jones lived "around the corner" from him before the Ospreys player moved to Swansea.
The Newport-born Number Eight was, therefore, a natural subject for his work.
"He was amazing at all sports in school, including tennis and football," added Mr Hovey. "But, rugby wasn't the one I would have expected him to excel at."
Ironically, his brother David, 29, was Ryan Jones' captain during his days in the Bassaleg Comprehensive first XV.
The acrylic work took Mr Hovey a week to complete and he aims to sell it for around £100 after the exhibition finishes.
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