CROWN PAINTS APPRENTICE DECORATOR OF THE YEAR: MEET THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
With the Crown Paints Apprentice Decorator of the Year national finals just around the corner, we caught up with three of this year’s national finalists.
Lisa Murphy
Name: Lisa Murphy
Age: 22
College and course: SVQ Level 3 Painting and Decorating at City Building Glasgow’s Queenslie Training College
Favourite thing about decorating: Seeing the transformation of a project and the difference you can make to it personally.
How did you get into decorating? Painting and decorating has always been an interest of mine, so I applied just prior to leaving school.
What would it mean to win ADY? It would be a validation of four years of hard work.
What have you learnt from taking part in ADY? That hard work will be rewarded.
What’s your brew of choice? Either coffee or Irn Bru.
What’s your most-used emoji? Laughing face.
What’s your guilty pleasure? I think an adrenaline rush – the best thing I have experienced in the past year is skydiving.
Aiden Dearie
Name: Aiden Dearie
Age: 22
College and course: SVQ Level 3 Painting and Decorating at City Building Glasgow’s Queenslie Training College
Favourite thing about decorating: Every day is different. It’s also given me the opportunity to work in some of Glasgow’s most prestigious buildings doing gold leafing, expensive papering, marbling and French polishing.
What are your plans after college? I’ll be working full time for City Building and doing my HNC in Construction Management which will hopefully allow me to progress my career even more.
What would it mean to win ADY? It would mean a lot to me as it would show that all my hard work has paid off.
What have you learnt from taking part in ADY? Hard work will be acknowledged.
What’s your favourite soundtrack to decorate to? Smooth Radio.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Watching bad documentaries. I watched one last night and after an hour wondered why I was watching it at all!
When you’re not decorating, what do you get up to? I play Xbox a lot and like going out for food and drink. I also go to the gym.
Bridie Kilby
Name: Bridie Kilby
Age: 19
College and course: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Painting and Decorating at Leicester College
Favourite thing about decorating: The best thing for me about decorating is that every day is different and work is done by me alone.
Plans after college: I’ll carry on gaining experience with Jelson Homes.
What would it mean to win ADY? It would mean that four years of hard work have paid off.
What have you learnt from taking part in ADY? That I’m better than I think I am!
What’s your favourite soundtrack to decorate to? 80s and 90s music.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Chocolate and the Friends box set.
When you’re not decorating, what do you get up to? I like going to the gym, socialising with my friends and family, as well as settling into my new home.
For updates on the Crown Paints Apprentice Decorator of the Year national finals, keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.