A Masters Textiles graduate from Bath Spa University has been awarded for her work in textiles design with her collection recently featuring at a prestigious exhibition.
Penny Seume, MA Design: Fashion and Textiles graduate has recently had a selection of her work shown at the prestigious Society of Designer Craftsmen annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London.
The range, inspired by New York, was firstly one of four finalists in the fabric category for the New Design Britain awards at Interiors UK in January 2012, winning a stand at the show and a highly commended recommendation.
Following her recommendation, at New Designers in June 2012, Penny’s work was then selected by the Society of Designer Craftsmen and invited to show at the annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London which was held this January.
For the exhibition, Penny designed printed velvet fabric based on the New York skyline and worked with upholsterer, Ann Dyke and interior designer for Dulux, Chris Read, to produce a spectacular sofa. Capturing the atmosphere of New York glittering in the winter sunlight the sofa, entitled Vagabond Shoes (in homage to Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York – the very hub of this design) is a true collaboration of all their skills.
The whole body of work has been given a Distinction award by the Society and in addition to the sofa, Penny showed cushions and linen lampshades based on her paintings and collages of the city.
Following the exhibition, the sofa will be featured with the Dulux colour of the year, a deep midnight blue in contrast to the golden sofa.
Penny, who following her training at Bath Spa, now works full time from her studio in Bristol, designing and creating beautiful printed fabrics, wallpaper and interior products. Her products reference the original location in a subtle way and capture some of the inherent mood and magic.
Commenting on the success of her work, she said: “I’m overjoyed to have received the award from the Society and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing people stroking my velvet printed sofa and cushions!”
Her collections have been variously inspired by the Bath skyline, New York and London, the latter capturing twinkling lights, barges and architecture by the Thames Embankment and was designed for the ‘London: A Celebration’ show at the Oxo Tower Gallery in May 2012.
