UWTSD student creates a ‘People’s Opinion’ award for Book of the Year.

Alys Shutt, a student from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Swansea College of Art, has created a special award for the ‘People’s Opinion’ category at the Book of the Year competition.

This is the tenth year in succession that a student from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Swansea College of Art has created an award for this category. Alys produced a special illustration which was given as a gift by Golwg360, sponsors of the People’s Opinion Award, to the author Hazel Walford Davies for her volume 'O.M.: Cofiant Syr Owen Morgan Edwards'.

Swansea College of Art Lecturer Gwenllian Beynon is proud of Alys’ work.

“We are so proud to have been able to work with Golwg360 for the tenth time in a row. The original work by Alys considers the strange period we have been in for the past 18 months, and like many artists she makes work with a focus on home. The flowers are from the garden at home.

“Creating a Book of the Year award which focuses on the students’ work rather than on creating an award provides an excellent platform for graduates to put their work out into the real world, and so give them a base in their career. Looking back over the last decade, it’s extremely interesting to see that those graduates have succeeded in a number of different fields, whether that be as teachers, by running successful creative businesses, as artists, or by creating illustrations for books. Looking back shows us that these opportunities are worth taking. We are very grateful for our collaboration with Golwg360 and for its gift of the Golwg360 People’s Opinion award.”

Alys Shutt comes from Nelson, Caerphilly, and was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni. Alys has just graduated with a first-class degree in illustration from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Swansea College of Art.

One of Alys’s main interests is illustrating book covers. For her final degree project, Alys rebranded the covers of well-known books, and created packs of special collectable objects for people fond of books/ stories.

Alys considers this opportunity an honour: “I am so proud to be able to create the People’s Opinion award this year. It’s wonderful to be able to contribute something towards the Book of the Year, and be able to play a part in the work of promoting Welsh literature and Welsh language authors in a creative way.”