A Welsh student has received a national award recognising her skill in painting and decorating.
Lillie Saunders, who attends Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus, placed third in the Painting and Decorating Association’s (PDA) Apprentice of the Year competition after battling through two six-hour challenges designed to test precision, stamina and skill.
She was revealed as 3rd Senior of the competition at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by the PDA at Plaisterers’ Hall in London.
Lillie was among 16 top scorers from five regional heats across England, Scotland and Wales to make it through to the Grand Final in Doncaster.
She said:
“I gained a lot of experience from the competition and learned new skills, and doing this helped me figure out what I'd like to do in the future.
“I had entered this for the experience and didn't expect to even place in the final, so when I heard I'd got through I was amazed. Competing in the final was exciting and I'd love to do it again.
“Placing third was unexpected – I was happy to just make it to the final.”
Both stages of the competition involve a six-hour challenge designed to test their precision, stamina and skill in scaling up, measuring out and precisely painting a complex design within the time given and were judged by Andrew Davis of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT) and Neil Ogilvie, Chief Executive of the PDA.
Neil Ogilvie said:
“The PDA’s Apprentice of the Year competition is a demanding but ultimately rewarding experience for people learning the skills required for a career in colour.
“Apprentices are challenged to accurately scale up and precisely paint a complex design which tests their knowledge and skill in the craft, and we know they value the experience of both taking part in the competition and attending the awards ceremony in London.
“Lillie was a top scorer regionally and nationally, and I congratulate her wholeheartedly on the outstanding work that has secured her 3rd Senior in the PDA Apprentice of the Year 2025 contest.”
The Apprentice of the Year competition was sponsored by Purdy, CITB and Johnstone’s Trade and winners received their awards at the PDA’s prestigious Premier Trophy Awards held at Plaisterers’ Hall in London.
