Ian's inspiration for this his first major project was the '53 stages of the Tokaido' by Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige. The Tokaido was the main road between Edo [now Tokyo] and Kyoto with 51 way stations, and a start and finish print which Hiroshige walked in 1833 publishing the prints the following year. To produce a welsh version Ian looked for a local long distance footpath

The Dyfi Valley Way is a 108 mile footpath through one of Wales’s most picturesque valleys. As well as being the frontier between North and Mid Wales, the Dyfi Valley is where the counties of Gwynedd, Powys and Ceredigion meet. Supported by a development grant from the Arts Council of Wales, Ian produced a series of 30 prints of views along the footpath.

The Dyfi Valley Way begins at Aberdyfi and runs along the north side of the river valley. The route passing through small villages like Pennal, past farms over hills and forests to the source of the river in Greiglyn Dyfi which lies below the ridge of Aran Fawddwy south of Bala. The path then turns south from Llanuwchlyn and runs across the hills above the south side of the Dyfi Valley towards Machynlleth. The trail finishes across the mouth of the estuary from the start of the walk at Borth.

MOMA Wales (Machynlleth), The Ceredigion Museum and Art Gallery (Aberystwyth) and the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth) all have prints from this interesting and unusul project in their permanent collections.

If you are interested in completing the walk a first step would be to buy a copy of Laurence Main's book 'A guide to the Dyfi Valley Way' which is available from the Tourist Information Office in Machynlleth and local bookshops.