Byd o Liw Nadolig

Reindeer and holly, a baby and a manger – a look at how Christmas has inspired works of art over the centuries, whether in churches, galleries or on the humble greetings card.

As part of the programme, presenter Osi Rhys Osmond invites four contemporary artists to produce a brand new work of art celebrating Christmas. Cefyn Burgess, Iwan Bala, Catrin Williams and Catrin Davies rise to the challenge, in their own style and medium. As always Osi is there to share the experience - and a joke or two.

Catrin Williams, an artist with a farming background, starts work in the middle of a flock of sheep, half way up a mountain in the Llyn Peninsula. Her next step is a visit to St Beuno's Church in Pistyll, near Nefyn, on the old pilgrim's route to Bardsey.

Cefyn Burgess's chosen medium is textiles. The Deganwy artist creates a shawl for a mother and baby, using fragments of cloth and dried flowers. “Cefyn has turned something ordinary into something extraordinary and very fine,” says Osi.

Catrin Davies from Llandeilo works in stained glass. Enlisting a friend and her little boy as models for her main image, she produces a portrait of Mary with the baby Jesus.

Iwan Bala brings a fun element into his work. He decides to create a Christmas grotto - in his own home. But first he goes in search of inspiration in ancient woodland near Beddau, Pontypridd.

“Each artist created something memorable,” remarks Osi. "Through the four new works we get closer to understanding the meaning of Christmas in our culture."

Byd o Liw takes us to the four corners of Wales in search of the images of Christmas, and into some of Wales's exquisite churches, from Cardiff to Llanwrin near Machynlleth, and on to Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmael near Ruthin. Osi also pays a visit to the National Gallery in London, and to see the oldest known Christmas card.