A SELF-TAUGHT musician and composer who specialises in music for wildlife and children’s television programmes has won an Emmy award for his work on a BBC Wildlife documentary.

‘Brollyman’, as he is known in the music world and who would not divulge his real name to the Argus, was nominated for the US TV award and won the Emmy for Outstanding Music and Sound.

The 52 year-old, of Risca, said he was in ‘complete disbelief’ to learn he had won the award for his originally composed score for the BBC Natural History Unit for ‘Natural World – Animal Misfits’ a programme about creatures that have not followed the typical evolutionary route.

Directed by Gavin Boyland and narrated by comedian Bill Bailey, the show was well received in the UK before being sold to PBS in the US. It was the US version that attracted the Emmy.

“Receiving the nomination was one thing, but I honestly thought I had little chance of winning, so decided to put it to the back of my mind,” explained the father-of-two.

“I was busy focusing on my latest project, a pitch for Disney, and had forgotten about the award ceremony.

“One morning I was eating breakfast with my two sons when my wife put her iPad in front of me. I couldn’t see without my glasses so she pointed out the words: ‘Emmy’, ‘winners’ and ‘Brollyman’ I was in complete disbelief.”

A little later the confirmation email came in from the States.

“I still can’t quite believe it’s happened," he said.

"I am, however, incredibly proud to have brought the Emmy back to Wales.”

He won the Emmy alongside sound editor Neil Hipkiss, dubbing mixer Matt Coster and a small American team but didn’t attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles last month because he didn’t imagine he would be shortlisted for an award.

‘Brollyman’ grew up in Undy and first picked up a guitar as an eight-year-old pupil at Magor Primary School.

The former Argus delivery boy studied at Caldicot Comprehensive before playing heavy metal music at the age of 17.

After finding that art college was not for him he spent two years studying at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

It was there that he discovered orchestral music and technology before starting to work professionally 17 years ago.

“I work in lots of different styles. As a result I became known as Brolly’. It’s become a running gag now that no one knows my name.”

‘Brollyman’ now spends his days composing music for television in the ‘Crow’s Nest’ at the top of his home, but this is just the first stage in the process, which includes several other members of ‘Team Brolly’.

He writes the music and creates it using technology on his computer.

Music engineer Carl Evans in Cardiff mixes the music before it reaches the hands of Donal Whelan and Gethin John from Hafod Mastering Studio, Cowbridge.

He said: “I specialise in story-telling and whilst I focus on natural history I am interested in children’s television.”

Among the thousands of scores he has composed, the ’Meerkat Manor’ animal soap series is one of his best known.

Brolly and his team are currently working on a 20-part series for CBeebies and a six-part series for Sky One. They hope to have a short session in Abbey Road Studios later in the year with the London Metropolitan Orchestra.