A spark of inspiration for an electricity-themed floral art exhibit helped a Carmarthenshire member secure the 16 & under title for the second year running at NFYFC’s national final.
Einir from Llanddarog YFC, was “ecstatic” when the judges declared her lightening design, using purple alliums, as the winner. The spiky display was praised for its proportions and interpretation of the theme.
“We knew a lot of people would go for lightbulbs in their electricity-themed designs so with my tutor Wendy Blodau Blodwen, we wanted to go down a different route and chose lightening.
“We thought we’d go a bit outside of the box and hoped that it would stand out.”
Einir, who lives on her family’s beef farm, finds floral art a creative escape from farming challenges and has been inspired to think about a career in floristry.
“It’s really nice when that time of year comes round again to practice for the competition, as it’s something different to do. I still really enjoy it and probably now so more than ever,” said Einir.
“I was absolutely gob-smacked, completely ecstatic when I heard I had won. I just couldn’t believe it.”
It was a double-win for Einir’s tutor Wendy, as fellow Llanddarog YFC member Rhys Griffiths, who she had also taught, won the Intermediate category at the national final with his Rumble in the Jungle design.
“Me and Rhys speak highly about the competition because you can really express your creativity in it. There are members coming through now who I think will really enjoy the competition,” explained Einir who will compete in the intermediate category next year.
There was a Red Sky at Night them in the senior category – which the winner, Emma Jones from Erwood YFC in Brecknock, found challenging.
“It was a difficult theme to try and interpret,” said Emma, who previously won the national final in 2022. “How people interpret the sky, it obviously looks different every time you look at it. For me, it was about trying to create the horizontal layers, that’s how I envisaged the red sky at night – seeing the layers of the colour.”
Other competitors used different colours in their designs but as the title was red Emma kept to using the single colour, which her tutor agreed with.
“I did three arrangements gradually getting smaller as they went up, and they were more horizontal rather than vertical. Luckily that was what the judge wanted to see, and she told me that was what she envisioned with the idea as well.”
Emma, who works in mental health in the NHS, finds floristry an ideal way to switch off from the demands of her job. Encouraged by her mum and supported by a family friend who is a NAFAS Floral Art judge Delyth Price, Emma has found a creative outlet she loves.
“Through YFC I have developed a passion for floral art. My mum was very successful in YFC in floral art and had been to the national final several times.
“When I was a junior, she just encouraged me to have a go,” explained Emma who has made it to the national final four times and won twice.
Emma is now in her final year of YFC but plans to continue competing in floral art outside of YFC.
“I live very close to the Royal Welsh Showground and since winning at the national final, I have been encouraged to compete at the Winter Fair and Royal Welsh so I would like to continue doing it. Even if it means helping out the junior members in our club.”
See the results from the Floral Art competition.
