Students from University of Bolton’s Textile-Surface Design group stole the show at the recent Bradford Textile Competition, a national contest which attracts 500 entries annually.
Suzanne Bond, who is studying part time for an undergraduate degree while also working at the university as a technician, took two prizes. The first prize was in the section she entered and she was awarded the overall prize, being judged best first-prize entry in the whole contest.
Also impressing judges were third-year student Jenna Warden, who took second prize in the same section, the Clothworker’s Foundation Award in Crossing Boundaries, which looks for innovative textile design for either fashion or interiors, involving a combination of textile processes.
And another University of Bolton student, Natasha Edwards, received a commendation for her work in the section covering surface pattern design for carpets and rugs.
Thrilled with the prizes, and the £700 prize-money, Suzanne has now heard there is interest in her work in America.
Said Suzanne: ‘The Art and Design Department show at an exhibition in New York every year – straight after the competition my work went over to that and I’ve just been told I now have a contact New York I’ve got to phone!
‘We are all really pleased with how well Bolton has done in this competition, three prizes and a commendation is really good news.’
Suzanne used the university’s needle bonding machine to create a sheet of fleece which she then felted by hand.
‘It’s a long process, felting by hand, using soap, water – your hands get red-raw,’ explained Suzanne. In my work I told the story of my brother’s wedding in Gretna Green, using words as well as images. It must have appealed to the judges.’
For further information
Corporate Communications Officer, Deana Morris
Tel: 01204 903007 Email: d.morris@bolton.ac.uk