Brys was living back in Wales during the mid 1960’s and was by that time already a noteworthy draughtsman and promising artist. A painting was submitted by Brys to an Eisteddfod, and was in contention for a prize until it was withdrawn by his family due to its controversial subject matter. The artist has been reluctant to discuss the exact subject matter or nature of that work.

His first commercial commissions also originate from this period and include posters for local concerts and dances in South Wales and record covers for a local beat group Rocket 5. The first of these, Hits At The Ritz was released in 1966. The original LP is extremely rare but a simplified and modernized adaptation of Brys original design can be seen on the CD re-release.
Brys also provided a cover design for the following album by Rocket5, Relaunch, which was released the following year. That was not used by the record company who opted for a more fashionable ‘psychedelic’ design by another artist. That is somewhat ironic given Brys’ subsequent artistic development (see below). Variations of both album designs were used by the band on posters and other material at the time and examples can occasionally be found. Whilst rare they have until recently had only nostalgia value for a small number of collectors, largely in South Wales.

During this period Brys was frequently to be found at Cefn Park, an exclusive enclave of detached housing built for senior executives of the nearby oil refinery. Although his parents were living on the Gower peninsular his girlfriend at that time was living at Cefn Park. The parents of many of his other friends at the time were also associated with the oil refinery. Although he also spent time with other friends on and around the Gower the peripatetic nature of his early life led him to associate principally with those who had a very similar background. Cefn Park had its own tennis courts and other leisure facilities provided for that executive class. By his own admission Brys was an exceptionally priveleged youth and by 1966 was cutting something of a dash in what was then very much a provincial backwater. He had access to the latest fashionable clothes of the Mod era and a Lambretta scooter with all the trimmings.

By his own recollection this aura of privilege was a source of some resentment with many other local youths with whom he had numerous altercations. For much of his life Brys has associated with a close circle of acquaintances and had what might be termed a detached and even antagonistic relationship with those outside that close circle.