Alice Rose and Ebberley Webber, a pair of students on the BA (Hons) Textiles Design course at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), have been named runners-up in the Applied Arts category of this year’s prestigious Batsford Prize.
Second-year student Ebberley was recognised for her project, A Sense of Place, an interior design collection deeply rooted in her personal connection to Cornwall’s rugged coastline, beaches, and natural landscapes.
Specifically designed for hotel interiors, Ebberley’s work translates coastal textures and forms into highly expressive patterns brimming with colour, movement, and energy.
“I was incredibly honoured to be shortlisted for the Batsford Prize in the Applied Arts and Textiles category, and to be named Runner-Up was truly unexpected,” Ebberley says. “It was an amazing experience to be part of both the awards event and the exhibition.
“My work is a collection of Cornish, beach-inspired pieces, so it means a great deal to me that people connected with it and appreciated the designs.
"Spending the evening celebrating such a wide range of work, meeting the judges and other artists, and seeing people engage with my pieces made me feel genuinely excited to be part of the design community.
Third-year student Alice Rose secured her runner-up spot with her collection, ‘Pres at Seven’. Her work explores the compelling relationship between recurring fashion trends and the sense of nostalgia they evoke, aiming to encourage playful self-expression. By combining traditional knitwear with innovative techniques and contemporary materials, Alice developed a series of richly textured designs intended for women’s fashion and accessories.
Established in 2013 by the independent art book publisher Batsford Books, the annual competition challenges higher education students across a range of creative disciplines. This year’s submissions were responded to the central theme of ‘Connections’.
The outstanding work of both Alice and Ebberley was on public display as part of the Batsford Prize Exhibition at the Batsford Gallery until in May.
For more information, visit the official Batsford Prize page.
