A PENARTH teenager has gone from the skate park to the small screen after being talent spotted at his own photography exhibition.

Stanwell School pupil Eric Aydin Barberini found himself working with professional stuntmen, as well as Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, after he was spotted by a local casting agency.

After filming over the Easter break he is now looking forward to seeing himself in action in an American TV production.

Eric’s big break came after he organised a photography exhibition at the 'Spit & Sawdust' skate park in Cardiff.

Eric, whose life revolves around skate boarding and photography, had organised the exhibition in a bid to raise money to buy camera equipment.

His parents had refused to buy him camera equipment until he proved he was serious about the subject.

Determined to convince them, he organised a photography exhibition at the skate park where he regularly volunteers. He used phones and lo-tech cameras to produce his photos and videos.

'Spit & Sawdust', run by artists and skaters, proved to be the ideal venue.

He named his exhibition 'I CAN'T AFFORD A DSLR - The teenage years'.

Friends played live music and it was packed out with friends, family, artists and skaters.

During the exhibition Eric met with Shelley Norton of local casting agency The Big Talent School and Agency.

She heard he needed a part-time job to buy his camera, and when Pinewood Studios asked her to find teenagers for an American TV film she thought of Eric.

“They needed teenagers with dark hair, strong features and a physical presence to play Welsh rebel warriors and I immediately thought of Eric,” she said.

“As a casting agency I need a wide mix of looks and styles and I was very grateful to have recently met Eric with a view to him auditioning.

“I just had no idea it would all happen so quickly for him! This was a great opportunity to work on a professional production alongside an old Youth Theatre friend of mine and now Hollywood actor Matthew Rhys.”

Written by Kurt Sutters of the 'Sons of Anarchy' cult fame and directed by Paris Barclay of series such as ‘West Wing’, ‘CSI’ and ‘Glee’, the historical drama is set in 14th century Wales, a time of Welsh rebellion.

Eric, Cai and Nathan from Big Talent worked on location in West Wales throughout the filming.

The days were long and exhausting, wielding heavy swords, but it was an exhilarating experience fighting alongside professional stunt men and explosive special effects.

Eric, 16, said: “I'm aching all over and got a shield burn on my knuckles, but I enjoyed seeing how Paris Barclay directed the cast.”

This week Eric also had to complete a mountain trek for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. “It was a bit like doing D of E with swords and explosions!'

He added it was a big leap from a paper round to Hollywood stunt fighting but he now sees the potential of having Pinewood and Roath Lock Studios on the doorstep.

'The best thing is, thanks to Shelley Norton, I can afford a DSLR camera now.”

For more info about ‘Spit and Sawdust go to http://spitandsawdust.co.uk and Big Talent www.thebigtalent.co.uk