Lulu Harrison Announced as Winner of the 2026 QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award

QEST and Sanderson are delighted to announce glass artist and QEST Scholar Lulu Harrison as the winner of the 2026 QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award.

Selected from six outstanding finalists, Lulu receives the £25,000 award to support the continued development of her craft practice. Her pioneering approach to sustainable, geo-specific glassmaking combines traditional glassmaking techniques with material science, using natural waste materials such as mussel shells and local wood ash as alternatives to conventional raw ingredients.

This is going to make an unbelievable difference to the future of my craft.

With this funding I will be able to develop a bioregional glass studio in the heart of Cornwall, working with abundant waste and local materials, the surrounding landscape and nearby communities.

It’s such an exciting opportunity to continue with my research, and to invest in the infrastructure, equipment and knowledge to develop new glass recipes, processes and craft objects.

– Lulu Harrison

A vision for the future of glassmaking

Lulu’s practice explores how traditional craft skills can evolve through research, innovation and sustainable approaches to materials. Her work reimagines historical glassmaking techniques to create new glass compositions from locally abundant waste materials.

The award will enable Lulu to take this work further by creating a dedicated facility for researching, testing and developing new glass formulations. This will support the continued growth of her own practice while helping to develop methodologies that could be adopted by other craft practitioners and industry.

Celebrating the next generation of craft

The winner was selected following interviews at Voysey House, Sanderson’s historic headquarters in London. The judging panel brought together leaders from across craft, design, interiors and journalism, including Lisa Montague, Deborah Pocock LVO, Debika Ray, Ruth Sleightholme, Hugo Macdonald and Hanny Newton, the inaugural 2024 award winner.

Lisa Montague, CEO of Sanderson Design Group and QEST Chair, highlighted Lulu’s strong craftsmanship and vision for the future of glassmaking, while QEST CEO Deborah Pocock LVO praised her specialised practice and innovative approach to circular glassmaking.

The QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award celebrates emerging makers who are pushing the boundaries of their disciplines and shaping the future of craft. Lulu’s work demonstrates how heritage skills, research and innovation can come together to create new possibilities for sustainable making.

Congratulations to Lulu on this well-deserved achievement, and to all six finalists for their outstanding work.

Meet the Finalists

Now in its second edition, the biennial QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award celebrates exceptional early-to-mid-career makers shaping the future of British craft through outstanding skill, innovation and dedication to their discipline.

The 2026 shortlist brings together five remarkable talents from across the UK:

Silversmith, jeweller and QEST Scholar Epona Smith combines traditional Florentine hand engraving with contemporary jewellery design, drawing inspiration from the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures. Having worked as an engraver for Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe, she now creates bespoke pieces and jewellery that bring together intricate illustration, personal storytelling and exceptional craftsmanship.

Wood and resin worker Jacob Marks explores the potential of natural and renewable materials, creating contemporary furniture and objects that combine material experimentation with considered design. His practice investigates how materials such as timber and pine resin can be used more sustainably, connecting craft and innovation with the landscapes and ecosystems from which materials are sourced.

Textile artist, embroidery designer and QEST Scholar Kamilah Ahmed is a British Bangladeshi textile artist whose work brings heritage embroidery techniques into contemporary design. Drawing on traditions including Jamdani weaving and Ari hook embroidery, she creates intricate silk textiles, embroidered panels and installations for interiors, blending cultural storytelling with material experimentation. Her previous experience includes couture embroidery for leading fashion houses and embroidery design at de Gournay.

Ceramic artist Luke Fuller uses clay to explore the relationship between industrial and natural landscapes, drawing on his family’s connections to the steel and coal industries of South Wales. His sculptural ceramic work explores abstraction, construction and disrupted forms, reflecting on humanity’s relationship with the environment. A Royal College of Art graduate, his work has been exhibited internationally and is held in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection.

Furniture designer and maker Sean Evelegh creates bespoke furniture that combines traditional woodworking skills with contemporary design. Working with carefully selected solid woods and veneers, he produces distinctive tables, cabinets and other pieces that celebrate the natural character of timber and meticulous attention to detail. His approach balances functionality, thoughtful design and lasting craftsmanship, creating furniture intended to be treasured for generations.