A SHREWSBURY designer has been selected to take part in a national programme for new talent.
Helen Foot is one of 28 people to have been selected to be part of 2011’s Hothouse programme run by The Crafts Council.
The six-month programme for the UKs brightest new craft talent is focused on developing their business skills and creative skills.
It began at the Design Council in London on September 15.
“It’s fantastic to have been selected for Hothouse,” said Helen. “I feel really honoured and look forward to the journey that the next six months will take me on.”
Helen is a textile designer and weaver who gained a Masters from the Royal College of Art last year.
She moved back to her home town of Shrewsbury after graduation and set up Helen Foot Design, a freelance and commission design business.
She has worked on freelance projects for Paul Smith and Alexander McQueen and is now concentrating on developing her own product line.
“I’m excited to be designing my own products at the moment,” she said. “I hope Hothouse will enable me to promote my wares to a wider audience and help me to establish links with British manufacturers.”
Helen runs her business from a Shrewsbury studio which she shares with her photographer brother Richard.
The siblings have organised exhibitions and creative networking events in the town and have a short film made in collaboration with Arron Fowler on show at the V&A as part of the Power of Making exhibition.
For more information see www.helenfoot.co.uk or www.craftscouncil.org.uk.