The Biggest Salmon - a love letter to a hen - Usk
Posted on November 20, 2025 by Steph
'The Biggest Fish’ was created by mosaic artist Stephanie Roberts and the pupils of year 6, Usk C V Primary School 2024-25.
The children worked so passionately to honour the life of this incredible hen, salmon. Inspired by their genuine compassion and respect for this beautiful and enormous fish. The mosaic is a life sized interpretation measuring 143 cm in length that was caught by conical as she was heading up river to spawn and unfortunately allowed to rot due to her being a trophy catch, because of her shear size. (Needs to be confirmed, i cant remember)
Design
The project began by imagining her life’s story, from young smolt swimming down the River Usk, a powerful ocean predator to spawning adult. These conversations brought visualisations of her life, which enabled the children to understand the importance of her as a member of the natural world and to local communities as a food resource.
The research lead to investigating the social history of the salmon, Folk art from the Native American Indian tribes people, who respected the wealth of food the salmon gave to their people, creating iconic artwork to honour their importance. Stories from The Mabinogion acknowledged the wiseness of the salmon, in their stories. Welsh blanket designs, Celtic knot work and love spoons where researched for design inspiration. As ideas developed of how this salmon could reflect her story and the children's respect for her.
All elements of the design were informed from their research enquires about her identity. Stage by stage the drawings and collages became designs, until a final design encapsulated all their ideas — life cycle, heritage, beauty and health.
Process of making
The size and shape of the artwork came directly from the original painting of the salmon.
Over 4 days the mosaic tiles were arranged and brought together to form a colourful version of the original collaged design, utilising the iridescent qualities of the materials.
Here are some of the details you might see-
- Observations of a hens visual appearance — scales and spots
- The reflection of clear spring and river waters of her cheeks. and movement of ocean water down her body
- The life cycle of a salmon — incorporated onto her body’s length
- Celtic knot work / love spoon design appearing along her back, initiated by the children’s popular idea of incorporating hearts into the design.
Workshops complete the mosaic was prepared for inlay into the slate creating a mature and elegant aesthetic finish.
The repurposed snooker table slate holds its own story seen by the numbers on its surface.
Artists statement
‘There is a significant environmental message embodied in this fish artwork. That also tells a story of a visual love letter to her life, and in respect of her life. Possibly comparable to a visual ode to all the fish of our rivers, past, present and hopefully, future.’
www.stephanierobertsart.com