Championing Irish Craftmanship: The David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award Winner

Bringing colour to the moods and mysteries of the Irish weather …

Peter Young, a stained-glass artist from Dublin, is the winner of this year’s David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award which champions craftspeople in the later stages of their careers. It also honours the legacy of David Shaw-Smith who, with his wife Sally, produced and directed the documentary series Hands, and made over 138 documentaries in total.

Having studied design and illustration in Dublin, and later undertaking a post graduate in Advanced Stained Glass Studies at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design in London, Peter has been working with stained glass for over 30 years. Profoundly influenced by artist Cecil Collins, his work incorporates etching and painting processes applied to handmade glass, through which he achieves variations of tone and texture. Peter’s winning proposal was “Drawing Rain” inspired by Irish names such as ‘Spúrtach’ (splashing rain) and ‘Sánas’ (lull in a rainstorm).

The judging panel comprised curator and artist Mary Gallagher, 2024 winner Scott Benefield and Daniel Shaw-Smith, David’s son. Peter was presented with his prize at the Design & Crafts Council Ireland headquarters in Kilkenny. Along with a €5,000 prize, he received a commemorative award by Scott Benefield in the form of a personalised sculpture of a landscape, created from colourful glass rondels mounted on a piece of green-veined Connemara marble.

DCCI CEO Mary Blanchfield, “This award celebrates the extraordinary skill, dedication and creativity of Ireland’s master craftspeople, whose work continues to enrich our cultural heritage. By recognising this year’s winner, Peter Young and his outstanding contribution to his craft, we also honour the legacy of David Shaw-Smith and his deep appreciation for Ireland’s craft traditions. It’s especially meaningful to present this award in the presence of Daniel Shaw-Smith, David’s son, whose continued support helps carry that legacy forward.”