A BALLOON modeller from Redditch who was taught the basics when she worked at a fast food restaurant as a teenager has won an award at a national event.
Layla Glen competed at the Blackpool Balloon Bash, which is described as the UK’s biggest balloon twisting event.
All the competitors were given a random bag of balloons to create a sculpture, with Layla making Elvis Presley.
Layla said: “I am over the moon to have been awarded third prize in the five minute competition and second in the iron man competition.
“The rules of iron-man one is every artist receives an envelope with random balloons in colour, shapes and sizes you have 30 minutes to create something using all the balloons.”
Layla completed the five minute competition on behalf of her daughter, Marcy.
“I am super proud of Macy, she was only 14 when she came with me to our first balloon convention and every year she has kept up and created awesome balloons.
“This year I really wanted her to enter the five-minute competition with her chicken design but she was too nervous so I created it and placed third so in my eyes she’s an award winner too.”
She was awarded at a £200 balloon pump for coming second and a trophy that she said will ‘forever be my pride and joy’.
Layla runs her own creative arts and bespoke balloon modelling business and said she loved copying from photographs.
Layla added: “This event is so good I love meeting all the talent from around the world and the amazing artists from the UK – everyone has something to give I learn so much and leave with so much inspiration and friends that are now my balloon family.”
Search ‘Creativity’ on Facebook to visit Layla’s page.
