Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

THE top three prizes in a national textile design competition, run by needlepoint company Elizabeth Bradley Designs, have gone to students from the University of Cumbria.

Emma Robertson took first prize of £500 for her winning design which will be taken into production by Elizabeth Bradley.

Juli Partlett was awarded second prize of £250 and her design will be manufactured on a bespoke order basis through the company.

Winning third prize was James Hunting who received £100 and the inclusion of his design in an accessorising stationery range.

The competition design brief was to create a needlepoint design that would blend into a contemporary home.

Emma, Juli and James are all first year part-time MA Contemporary Applied Arts students studying at the University’s Brampton Road Campus in Carlisle.

Clare Wilcock, UK manager of Elizabeth Bradley Designs, said: “Emma, Juli and James’ work stood out through the very fact they had spent the time hand painting the grid. We were particularly impressed with the amount of work they had put in to their final designs and the professional approach of using the appropriate materials.”

Angie Wyman, MA Contemporary Applied Arts course leader at the university, said: “They are all very talented applied artists and this recognition is richly deserved.”