The winners of Johnstone’s 36th annual Painter of the Year Awards have been revealed at a prestigious ceremony, with the top prize being awarded for the restoration of a Victorian shopping arcade in Cardiff.
The event, which took place on Saturday 11th May in Manchester, saw 21 finalists compete across four categories – Commercial & Leisure, Accommodation, Residential and Restoration – with winners being voted for on the night by over 200 guests from the painting and decorating industry.
JJ Williams Ltd won in the Restoration category for its expert redecoration of Castle Arcade in the centre of Cardiff, before battling it out with the other category winners for the Supreme Winner title, which it took home along with a brand new van.
The team at JJ Williams Ltd worked through the night over a period of four months to transform the arcade, which attracts thousands of visitors each year with its fashion boutiques, gift shops and cafes. Using 17,000 litres of Johnstone’s Trade paint, they unified the previously mismatched aesthetic with an elegant colour scheme of charcoal, grey and off-white, while gold was used to showcase intricate architectural details.
Graham Thomas, director of operations at JJ Williams Ltd, said: “I’m in utter shock! To not only win our category, but to win the Supreme Winner too is just unbelievable. We worked incredibly hard to bring the arcades into the 21st century, while maintaining the traditional features, and feel we’ve made them a real centrepiece in Cardiff. We’ve received lots of compliments on our work over the past year and the arcades are busier than ever, but to have the recognition of our peers and win Johnstone’s Painter of the Year really is the icing on the cake!”
The winner of the Commercial & Leisure category was Art + Believe, a team of artists who hand-painted one of the largest indoor murals in the world with their striking, colourful floor design at London’s Alexandra Palace. Art + Believe wanted to create a space that was both beautiful and practical.
Meanwhile, M O’Boyle Decorators won the Accommodation category for its work at the luxurious Machrie Hotel and Golf Links on the remote Isle of Islay in Argyle. The team travelled via boat, and occasionally helicopter, to complete the beautiful decoration of new buildings and an 1800s farmhouse.
The award in the final category, Residential, went to Ian Keenan Decorators, which lovingly restored a previously unoccupied building in Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Square into a grand family home, using 18 decadent shades to bring the space back to life.
As well as the awards, the night saw Johnstone’s Trade raise £6,000 for its charity partner, Prostate Cancer UK, through a number of fundraising activities.
Rachel Copley, head of marketing at Johnstone’s, said: “The Painter of the Year Awards are an excellent opportunity to recognise, celebrate and reward the outstanding craftsmanship in the painting and decorating industry. The quality of the entries this year was phenomenal and it was a challenge to narrow them down to just 21 finalists. They showed the versatility Johnstone’s paints and the value of our consulting services.
“We’d like to thank all who attended for making the evening so spectacular, and say a huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists – we’re glad they had a great evening”.
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