Wrexham has never been short of talent, but three people in particular have spent the past year proving just how far skill, determination and a well-timed opportunity can take you.
Victoria Upton
For floral designer Victoria Upton, a creative spark turned into a national accolade almost before she’d had time to realise what was happening. Once focused on ceramics, she only found her way into floristry a few years ago, growing flowers at home and quietly developing her craft. Fast-forward to this autumn, and she walked away from the British Florist Association’s FleurEx event as the UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer.
It’s a remarkable leap for someone who says her technical skills were “very limited” not long ago. Now in her final year at Coleg Cambria Yale, she’s running the Violet Hill Flower Company from her home studio, championing seasonal, locally-grown blooms. What stands out most about her story is the mix of humility and ambition. This artist has fine-tuned her abilities with the help of her college mentors and turned a homegrown hobby into a sustainable small business. The pride from her long-standing tutor, Amanda Ellis, underlines just how big an achievement this is.
Dylan Morris
Drive of a different kind has pushed Dylan Morris forward. Still in his teens, he turned a classroom project into MountForce – an activewear and lifestyle brand building serious momentum. After his Young Enterprise team swept awards at both the North Wales and Welsh finals, he realised the idea had legs well beyond a competition. What makes his journey especially striking is the personal transformation running alongside the business. Once the sort of teenager who spent whole days at home gaming, he credits boxing and fitness with completely changing his outlook.
That shift runs through MountForce’s mission, which is less about selling clothing and more about encouraging people to pursue discipline, wellbeing and self-belief. With customers now reaching out to him from abroad and professional athletes backing the brand, he’s using that momentum to launch new ranges and build an online community centred on training, nutrition and support. It’s early days, but the project’s intent gives it a weight far beyond its years.
Gwyneth Morgan
At Nightingale House Hospice, the work might look different, but the impact is just as powerful. The arrival of Neurological Link Nurse Gwyneth Morgan at the start of the year marked a significant step in reaching people with complex conditions earlier in their diagnosis. Her role, funded through Hospice UK and the Masonic Charitable Foundation, is already reshaping how local patients access palliative support for conditions such as MND, MS, Parkinson’s and PSP.
She’s become a bridge between families, clinicians and community organisations, helping people understand what help is available and making sure they receive it at the right time. What resonates most is the consistency of the feedback: families feeling more supported, patients feeling more informed, and professionals recognising the value of earlier contact. Her work is now under national scrutiny as Nightingale House helps test new approaches that could later be adopted across the UK.
Three very different paths – one creative, one entrepreneurial, one clinical – but all rooted in the same thing: people in Wrexham using their talent to make life brighter, healthier or more inspiring for others.
Feature image: Gwyneth Morgan.
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