His awdl ‘Elusengarwch’ was judged to be the best in the Denbigh eisteddfod of 1819 by William Owen Pugh, Robert Davies (Bardd Nantglyn), and David Richards (Dewi Silyn) (qq.v.). This adjudication started a bitter controversy which raged for a very long time, for the general opinion among the poets and littérateurs of Wales was that the prize should have gone to David Owen (Dewi Wyn o Eifion, q.v.). Hughes was elected official ‘bard’ to the Society of Gwyneddigion, 1820-1, and won the prize offered by the Society of Cymmrodorion, 1822, for his cywydd ‘Hu Gadarn.’ In the Denbigh eisteddfod of 1828 he was again successful with his ‘Ymdrech Buddug yn erbyn y Rhufeiniaid’ and also with his awdl ‘Amaethyddiaeth’ — Walter Davies (Gwallter Mechain), John Blackwell (Alun), and Aneurin Owen (qq.v.) being the adjudicators. He competed with awdlau at Wrexham, 1820, Caernarvon, 1824, Rhosllanerchrugog, 1829, and Bryneglwys, Denbs., 1830. Short extracts of his work are to be found in the various periodicals and collections of verse published in his day. He d. 11 April 1850 at Bodfari.