Rhian Edwards has won the 2013 Wales Book of the Year award for her first collection, Clueless Dogs,  which was also shortlisted for the Forward first collection prize last year. Clueless Dogs also won the People’s prize, which was voted for by readers of the Western Mail and WalesOnline.

In an interview with Write Out Loud last year Edwards, from Bridgend, said: “There is definitely a very Welsh sound to my poetry and I think that derives from the lilting intonation of the dialect and language and also because I am a musician and singer. The sounds of the words are very important to me.” 

Edwards is also the winner of the 2011 John Tripp award for Spoken Poetry and Audience prize.

PHOTOGRAPH: PETER MORGAN