Six finalists announced for QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award

QEST, in partnership with Sanderson, is proud to announce the six craftspeople shortlisted for the prestigious QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award.

This esteemed award recognises emerging talent who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to their craft, contributing positively to their communities and the wider craft sector.

The inaugural QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award celebrates early-to-mid career craftspeople with two to seven years of experience in their field.

The award process, now entering its fourth stage, has narrowed down more than 180 nominations to six outstanding individuals, selected by a distinguished panel of judges; Interior Designer Benedict Foley, World of Interiors editor Emily Tobin, Crafts Magazine editor Debika Ray, QEST CEO Deborah Pocock and Sanderson Design Group PLC CEO Lisa Montague.

The six shortlisted makers represent a diverse array of disciplines, including woodturning, shoemaking, and straw embroidery. They include:

• Barnaby Ash
• Bobby Knight-Mills
• Hanny Newton
• Laura Quinn
• Olga Prinku
• William Efe-Laborde

Below is further information about each of their crafts.

Barnaby Ash

A master woodturner, Barnaby’s oak sculptural vessels are distinctive for their influence from classical antiquity and ancient pottery, characterized by the vessels’ whimsically intricate handles. Based near Brighton, Barnaby exclusively sources English oak, especially from storm-felled, diseased, or responsibly coppiced trees.

Sometimes he turns them from lightning-struck trees, where he adds waxed-cotton stitch work across the fractures. There’s an attention to craft with Barnaby: seen with his experimental plays with ancient
practices of patina (like adding natural fibres and beeswax), thin walls almost like fabric, and carving the handles from the same block of wood.

I’m absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for the QEST Sanderson
Rising Star Craft award. It means the world to receive this recognition from
QEST and the Sanderson Design Group for the way in which my practice has
developed over the last few years.

Bobby Knight-Mills

Based in rural North Devon, Bobby is a woodworker who exclusively uses UK-grown timber. His practice encompasses furniture making, wood turning and cabinetry – but with a sculptural quality, making his work transcend into objects of art. Bobby hand-selects his timber, and embraces the unique story of each tree he works with, which has meant he has collaborated with heritage sites such as Harewood House and the National Trust.

I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for this award. To have my
craft and creative voice recognised by such prestigious institutions as
Sanderson and QEST is a gift.

Hanny Newton

A specialist goldwork embroiderer, Hanny is pioneering the use of straw for embroidery as a sustainable alternative to metal threads. Fuelled by a passion to preserve and revitalise this near-extinct craft which dates to the 1700s, Hanny is the first person to commercially pursue the use of straw in lieu of metal threads.

I am honoured to have been shortlisted for the Rising Star Craft Award. It’s
very exciting to have this platform to share the work I have been developing
over the two years, exploring the largely forgotten skills of straw embroidery
as a ‘natural gold’, and celebrating the ways sustainable natural materials can
deepen our relationship to both the planet and our craft as makers.

Laura Quinn

Tactile, tender, and with textures that look like membranes of prehistoric sea creatures, Laura is a glass artist whose works range between high-concept sculptures to more functional lighting and object pieces. Using innovative digital techniques involving modular and interchangeable parts, Laura is pushing at the limits of what glass can do.

I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have made it to the shortlist for the
QEST Sanderson Rising Star Award. After a very challenging few years trying
to balance work with pursuing my craft, this is a huge confidence boost. It
means so much to me that QEST believes in my dream as much as I do.

Olga Prinku

Pioneering the craft of ‘dried flower embroidery’, North Yorkshire-based Olga embroiders organic material like pressed flowers, leaves, seed heads onto tulle fabric to create unique bio tapestries. Often foraging her own organic material and referencing folkloric imagery, Olga has taught herself the art of dried flower tulle embroidery through many pain-staking hours and through trial and error.

I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for the QEST Sanderson Rising Star
Craft Award. QEST’s focus on modernity and innovation alongside tradition
resonates with my creative journey of embroidering with organic materials.
Making the shortlist provides a wonderful sense of encouragement and
validation, and winning the award would open up exciting possibilities to deepen
my knowledge and skills.

William Efe-Laborde

A bespoke shoemaker in East End London, William practices centuries-old methods to create handcrafted English footwear. With a deep knowledge of vintage leathers and traditional shoemaking tools, William’s work is recognized for its specialist sourcing, and techniques – some known by fewer than five people worldwide. William intends to further his research into historical shoemaking methods and continue training apprentices and interns in this endangered craft.

I am ecstatic to be shortlisted for the Sanderson Award. My hope is that
this prize can achieve for craft what the Turner Prize has accomplished for
Contemporary Art. My ambition is that together we can raise the esteem and
recognition of technique.

The winner will be announced at an event in October, where they will receive the £25,000 prize to support their craft and contribute to the future of the craft industry.