Barnaby wins 2025 National Eisteddfod New Artist Scholarship

Former Coleg Menai and Glynllifon student Barnaby Prendergast has won the 2025 National Eisteddfod Dewi Bowen New Artist Scholarship.

Barnaby was awarded the annual prize for his sculptures, Cadair Ffon Gymreig, Cannwyll Siglo and Ffrâm Gylchdro, at this year’s Eisteddfod in Wrexham.

The 22-year-old from Mynydd Llandygai, near Bangor, wins £1,500 and will be offered the chance to exhibit his work in Y Lle Celf at next year’s National Eisteddfod.

Barnaby studied Level 3 Forestry and Arboriculture at Glynllifon, before moving on to the Art Foundation course at Coleg Menai in Bangor.

He combines skills from both courses in his artwork, in which he employs traditional crafts to create functional objects mainly from found materials.

This summer, Barnaby graduated from the University of Bristol with a First in Fine Art, and submitted work from his degree course to the National Eisteddfod Scholarship.

He said: “I was a bit shocked. I definitely didn’t think I’d win, especially looking at some of the artists who have won in the past.”

While Barnaby uses traditional craft methods, he enjoys adding a twist - hence Cadair Ffon Gymreig is a modern take on the Welsh stick chair, Cannwyll Siglo is a wobbling candle, and Ffrâm Gylchdro is a wooden box with a metal chain that rotates around it.

He plans to use the scholarship money to invest in new tools to continue building craft items such as stick chairs, stools and spoons. He also plans to fund a website to promote his work, and is currently converting a barn at his family home into a studio.

He says the skills he developed during his time at both Glynllifon and Coleg Menai have led him onto his current creative path.

“I knew I wanted to go to college, and my friend told me about the forestry course at Glynllifon,” he said. “I was interested in nature, and it’s in a really nice place.

“It was a good course. I learned a lot on the course that has carried through to what I’m doing now - especially with the woodworking.

“I was always interested in making things out of wood, and I enjoyed a unit where we carved wood and made tools. We also learned about trees and how to maintain them, which is very useful living in quite a rural area.”

After completing his studies at Glynllifon, Barnaby moved on to the Art Foundation course, taught by his father Owein.

He said: “I really enjoyed the Art Foundation course in Parc Menai. I learned to take advantage of the large studio space and various equipment. Gaining the confidence and knowledge to expand work greatly prepared me for an even bigger space and environment during my degree course.”

Barnaby is currently working on a wood sculpture as part of Coed Coexist, a project initiated by Pen Llŷn artists Junko Mori and John Egan in partnership with Plas Glyn-y-Weddw arts centre in Llanbedrog.

He is one of several artists to have collected wood from a storm-felled beech tree, in order to create work that will celebrate Pen Llŷn and explore how people can better coexist with trees, woodland and forests.

Work from Coed Coexist is expected to be exhibited at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in May and June 2026.

Meanwhile, four of this year’s graduates from the BA (Hons) Art & Design degree at Parc Menai have been selected for the National Eisteddfod exhibition.

Work by Lliwen Williams, Erin Williams, Arawn Bryn and Hari Owen is on display in Y Lle Celf.

Work by Erin Williams, Arawn Bryn and Hari Owen which is on display at the National Eisteddfod

Hari’s video, ‘Mabinogion PSA’, was among the works selected. Parodying 1980s-style public service announcements, it warns of sudden sightings of Welsh mythical creatures that have been caught on camera.

He said: “It's a privilege to have my work chosen and to be shown among the many great artists of Wales. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and I hope my work can be enjoyed and appreciated.”

Do you want to work in the Art & Design sector? Grŵp Llandrillo Menai offers a range of courses from Level 1 to degree level. Learn more here.