Mr Cunningham-McKean, 20, received the Gordon Institute of TAFE Highly Commended student of the year 2017, level two award this month. 

He said he didn’t expect to win the award but put it down to hard work. 

“I’ve been working hard and focusing on what I want to achieve,” he said. 

“I want to be the best spray painter in town. I want to be the go-to guy.” 

Mr Cunningham-McKean said he started off in a school-based apprenticeship at Mick Cramer Smash Repairs in Horsham, which he did for a year. 

“After that I started working as a full-time apprentice,” he said. 

Mr Cunningham-McKean said his goal was to teach someone else the skills he has learned. 

Mick Cramer said Mr Cunnigham-McKean was one of the best apprentices he had taught during his 40-year career. 

“He picked up everything very quickly,” he said. 

“I remember he was very persistent about coming on as a full-time apprentice. He would come in weekly asking to be put on full-time.

“He sets himself goals and achieves them. He’s more advanced as a painter at his age than anyone I have worked with before.”