All about the Giant Salmon
Glass Mosaic of the Giant Salmon caught on the River
Usk in 1782
Artists words – Stephanie Roberts
A tribute to a hen The Biggest Fish
‘The children worked so passionately to honour this wonderful salmon’s life, with these thoughts embedded into the design and making process. Each element of the design formed from their research, drawings and heartfelt respect. In discussion with the children, we soon began to realise that this salmon had a very powerful story to tell, concerning the health and wellbeing of our rivers and its inhabitants. By observing the sheer size of this female salmon caught in 1782, in comparison to today’s minimal sightings, the story and concerns are obvious.’
Design process and observations - CAN YOU SEE?
Through observing this remarkable fish, the children and I tried to understand who this salmon was and what her life might have looked like and felt like. From here the design was developed and a mosaic created:-
· Observations of a hen’s visual appearance - scales, spots and fins.
· Learning about her life cycle and life purpose - 'stages of life' incorporated into her body’s design - can you find the 5 stages egg, alvin, fry, parr, smolt and adult?
· Imagining her life travelling down rivers and through oceans - blue in her face depicting clean waters and movement of the ocean down her body.
· Exploring identity and her knowledge of her birthplace - Celtic knot/ love spoon design appearing along her back.
'When I was asked to create a life-sized mosaic of a salmon netted in the River Usk, I was a little uneasy of its visual purpose, however I soon felt the significant environmental message it embodied. The artwork itself tells of her story, like 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 future.’
Contact details for Stephanie along with other commissions can be found at www.stephanierobertsart.com
Words by local fisherman Mike Cowburn
Newspaper clipping of the oil painting going to auction in 1992
In early 1992 a life-size oil painting of a monster salmon was discovered in a coach house in Derby. An inscription on the canvas reads: ‘Portrait of a salmon caught at Llantissent near Uske AD1782, weight 68 ½ lbs’. Some 210 years after the fish was netted by Messrs Lewis and Reece of the Hanbury Estate. Exactly where this portrait had been in the intervening 210 years is not known.
This painting came to auction at Cirencester on the 21st of February 1992, the estimated price was around £4,000. An expert declared the artist would simply have laid the fish on the canvas and drawn around it. Cirencester auctioneers Moore, Allen and Innocent believe this to be the largest fish caught in Wales and possibly Britain at 68 ½ lbs. In auction it went to art adviser David Dallas of Bicester, bidding on behalf of a keen Welsh fisherman, for £5,800.
Subsequent enquiries revealed that a second portrait of this salmon had been painted with oils on wood. This was located in the storeroom of at Abergavenny Museum. It is almost certain that this painting had been displayed in the Usk and District Council Office in Bridge St, Usk. It is believed that this second painting was donated to Abergavenny Museum when the Council Office in Usk closed during the 1960s.
Text from the newspaper article reads:-
A BRUSH WITH THE MONSTER - This enormous salmon could leap into the record books – more than 200 years after it was caught. The 68.5 lb monster, painted for posterity in 1782, goes under the hammer later this month. The Guiness Book of Records says the country’s biggest salmon was 64lbs, caught by Miss G.W. Ballantine on the Tay in 1922. But auctioneer Andrew Gibbs, pictured with assistant Simon Mayers, right, said ‘We’re hoping they’ll recognise this as a new record.’ An inscription on the canvas, discovered in a coach house in Derby, reads ‘Portrait of a salmon caught at Llantrissent near Usk, AD 1782 wight 68 ½ lbs.’ It could land up to £4,000 when it comes up for auction in Cirencester on February 21. While fishermen are masters of the art of telling tall stories, the picture was almost certainly accurate. Mr Gibbs said ‘The artist would simply have laid the fish on the canvas and drawn round it.’ Picture: Clive Postlethwaite
Words from the Usk Civic Society
How it started
The idea began in the spring of 2024, when Society member Mike Cowburn shared the story he had heard from fellow angler, Guy Mawle, of the giant salmon with the Usk Civic Society at one of their monthly meetings. The Civic Society agreed to form a small working group to bring this legend to life.
Why This Project Matters
The story dates back to 1782, when an extraordinary 68 ½ lbs salmon was caught on the River Usk in Llantrisant, near Usk – a tale that has become part of local legend with a current exhibition at Chepstow Museum. But this project is more than about history; it celebrates our river, its wildlife, and the need to protect it. With salmon numbers now in decline, our hope is this mosaic, and its educational links will inspire awareness and action to protect our natural environment.
The Artwork
Created by Newport-based artist Stephanie Roberts, the mosaic is a vibrant, life-sized representation made to the exact size of the original fish – 57 inches long and 13 inches wide. Set here on the Conigar Walk beside the river, it enriches Usk with a lasting piece of public art. With support from the Roger Edwards Educational Trust, we are especially grateful that Stephanie involved the pupils of Usk Primary School, giving them a real and lasting connection to this story and perhaps one day they will share the story with your own children.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Our sincere thanks to Usk Primary School, Roger Edwards Educational Trust, Monmouthshire County Council, especially the Grounds Team for their help with the installation, Usk Town Council, Natural Resources Wales, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, local businesses, residents, and all the individuals who supported our fundraising campaign. And finally, to Stephanie Roberts and the pupils of Usk Primary School for creating this spectacular piece of art for all to enjoy. After 18 months of hard work and collaboration, we are proud to return the salmon to the River Usk as a symbol of our heritage and community spirit.
Photograph - Mrs Jean Williams formerly of Sweets Fishing Tackle Shop, Usk with the artist Stephanie Roberts at the unveiling ceremony, October 2025.
The salmon mosaic was unveiled on Saturday 18th October 2025 by our own Mrs Jean Williams, famously of Sweet’s Fishing Tackle Shop. This project has been a true community effort, supported and financed by local organisations, businesses, residents, and volunteers. Special thanks go to the project team—Meirion Howells, Mike Cowburn, and Simon Wigglesworth for turning a centuries‑old story into a modern celebration of heritage, creativity, and environmental awareness. Usk Civic Society website https://uskcivicsociety.org.uk
A fictional tale of the life of the Giant Salmon
The untold story of the Giant Salmon. I was born as an egg above Brecon in the River Usk on the 5th December 1773. I then spent three years in the upper reaches of the River Usk as fry, a parr and then a smolt. In April 1776 I began to migrate down river as a smolt, moving downstream from Brecon past Crickhowell, past Abergavenny to Usk. I was now in the lower reaches of the River Usk. From Usk I continued to move downstream, reaching the tidal zone near Newbridge. The tide running out helped me to move more downstream past Newbridge-on-Usk, Caerleon to Newport, which was a much smaller town than it is nowadays. I joined the Severn Estuary at Newport. Again, I allowed the outward motion of the tide to ease me into the Atlantic Ocean. I swam across this ocean to Greenland and Iceland, all the time feeding on shrimp, prawn and krill. I was growing at a rapid rate, and my flesh became salmon pink.
The three years feeding on such delicacies, I suddenly felt the urge to spawn. To do this, I had to swim back across the Atlantic to successfully spawn in the river where I was born, namely the River Usk. With the assistance of the Gulf Stream, I was propelled back across the Atlantic to the Severn Estuary. I allowed the tide to push me up the River Usk, past Newport and Caerleon, that old Roman settlement, to Newbridge-on-Usk. From there I had to swim up river using my own strength. When there was some decent rainfall, I moved on up past Usk to Abergavenny. There I waited for about a week, before some further rain allowed me to progress past Crickhowell and Brecon to the pool where I was born.
There I found a mate, a similar size to me, around 30 lbs and I laid my eggs in the gravel. The cock fish followed within 20 seconds. The deed having been completed, my mission was to go back down river, back to the Severn Estuary. I completed this in the early months of 1777. In repeat mode now, back across the Atlantic to Greenland and Iceland all the time feeding on shrimp, prawn and krill. Several years now in the Iceland and Greenland areas, living a life of gluttony.
In 1782 I felt the urge to cross back through the Atlantic to spawn for a second and final time. I knew this would be the end. I duly followed the Gulf Stream to the Severn Estuary and the mouth of the River Usk. I caught a large tide past Newport, Caerleon and Newbridge-on-Usk. But when I reached Llantrisant, disaster struck! In the large pool I saw a man in a coracle and another on the bank. It was too late - I was caught in their net. The man on the bank had a heavy piece of wood. Bang! Bang! Two sharp blows and I was dead! Is there life after death?
“Yes, of course, there is life after death”. I remember it well. After banging me on the head, the two men hauled me up on to the bank. One man remained with me, admiring me, while the other walked off. The other man returned about half an hour later with a single horse and cart. I was placed on the back of the cart. They took me a short distance to the Royal Oak in Llantrisant, where people came out holding pints, to admire me
The following day I was moved on to the Greyhound Inn and then to Usk. Everyone seemed to come out to take a look at me. It was then on to Raglan and Monmouth, before turning right over the River Wye to Wyesham. From there it was heading south down the Wye Valley to Llandogo and Tintern. Everyone seemed to want to see me. A right cheek, I know, parading me down the Wye Valley. I am the biggest salmon in Wales - so much for the River Wye!
Then on to Chepstow, before turning left over the bridge at the bottom of town. I was fed up with criss-crossing the River Wye. On through Gloucestershire, past Tidenham to Lydney. A lot of rather drunk cider drinkers came out of the pubs in Lydney. Trot on to Gloucester, before turning right to Bristol and Bath. And this is where my story really does come to an end. I became too putrid and had to be thrown away. What a waste of my eggs and pink flesh! The end.
The Tale of the Giant Salmon by Michael Cowburn
Learn more
YouTube Video of Unveiling Ceremony 2025
Link to the unveiling ceremony by Mrs Jean Williams Saturday 18th October 2025 on Conigar Walk, Usk, click on this link https://youtu.be/OjiOIZeqNGU?si=NVPYgxxzYDBtWMiW
Link to Guy Mawle’s article - How big was Wales’ largest salmon? updated 8 April 2024
https://afonyddcymru.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/How-big-was-the-68lbsUsk-salmonUpdate2.pdf
Link Abergavenny Museum’s 2024 exhibition – the Big Fish 26th April 2024
www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/2024/04/abergavenny-museums-2024-exhibition-the-big-fish
Two paintings of the salmon, one on canvas and one on wood, as part of the exhibitions at Abergavenny and Monmouth Museums in 2024 and 2025.