Daniel is just in time to be a winner (From Barry And District News)

Daniel is just in time to be a winner

A Barry artist has achieved national recognition after winning the Sunday Times Young Artist of the Year award.

Daniel Llywelyn Hall won the prestigious prize after submitting his painting entitled 'Ship Hotel and Splash'.

The watercolour painting is based upon an old photograph of the Ship Hotel in Barry.

The 23-year-old who now lives in London achieved a BA (Hons) in Illustration at the University of Westminster.

But this latest award comes after a long line of achievements including producing illustrations for the Independent on Sunday and exhibiting his work in a number of group shows.

Daniel has also taken part in the Welsh Artist of the Year Competition 2003.

He said: "I was very surprised that I won.

The prize motivated me to enter the competition and I couldn't believe it as I entered within five minutes of the closing date.

He added watercolour has also become quite important in his work.

"But I don't use it conventionally, I began by making a structured image, it's true, but then I strip it away, layer by layer, before building it up again."

Daniel was also a member of 6th Barry Scouts and is now a leader for the group achieving both the Queens Scout Award and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Daniel will be next joining a contemporary Welsh poet for a touring exhibition, which features 12 paintings that combine visual art and poetry.

The exhibition will be held at the Washington Gallery towards the end of January.