Anglesey's Llyr Evans given the Young Artist Scholarship at Eisteddfod

Established to promote arts and crafts in Wales the scholarship was awarded to Llyr Evans, from Moelfre, as the most promising candidate.

The £1,500 prize, donated by John Brinley Jones, of Caernarfon-based electronic measuring equipment manufacturers PPM Technology Ltd, will enable him to follow a course at a recognized art and design school or college or attend master classes.

Now living in London Llyr's interest in photography began at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch after encouragement from his teacher Mandy Roberts – who Llyr said “is the reason I take pictures today”.

Photography by Llyr Evans.

Describing his work, which is on display at Y Lle Celf on the Eisteddfod Maes, Llyr said: "This collection is a combination of elements from the world of art and film to create an imaginary world, but also a world rooted in reality. We carefully curate characters, locations and the narrative seen in the portraits to re-present familiar images in a new way to the audience, In them there is a glimpse of the individual self-reflecting in a moment of stillness."

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After studying art at Coleg Menai, he went to London to study Fashion Communication and Promotion at Central Saint Martins.

In addition to the National Eisteddfod scholarship Llyr will be offered a space to exhibit his work in Y Lle Celf at next year's National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It is the second major scholarship won by Llyr this year. In May he was announced as the winner of the Young Artist Scholarship at the Urdd National Eisteddfod staged at Llandovery.

Photography by Llyr Evans.

A spokeswoman for Y Lle Celf said: "The selectors were very impressed with Llyr Evans' work and had little hestitation in awarding him the scholarship. We wish him well in the future."

She added the selectors were also very impressed with the work submitted by Shauna Taylor form Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

"After some discussion they awarded her a Highly Commended prize of £500 in memory of the late Jonah Jones," the spokeswoman said.

During the week-long festival Y Lle Celf, supported by the Arts Council of Wales, will be the largest temporary art exhibition in Europe with dozens of carefully selected art items on display

Elin Huws, chair of the Art committee in Llyn and Eifionydd, said: "The Eisteddfod gives artists a place to display their work and for one week every year Y Lle Celf is the most popular art gallery in Wales.

"This exhibition has become a very professional show and winning an award is extremely important to an artist's reputation.

"What is exciting, innovative and fresh for one may not be considered so by others. That is what usually happens at Y Lle Celf and we will see what the opinion is about the art in the exhibition this year."

She explained that in order to exhibit in the exhibition, artists and designers must either have been born in Wales, have Welsh parents, or have lived or worked in Wales for at least three years before the presentation date. The final selection is made by a panel of experts.

Elin added several exciting projects have been taking place in the Eisteddfod's catchment area for months and these will have a prominent place in the exhibition.

"The Cofnod project was set-up with the intention of keeping the names of places such as fields, chapels and beaches alive.

"During the Eisteddfod itself we will have a specific theme every day in Y LLe Celf with workshops and activities," she said.