Winners Announced for the Sustainability Award 2024
28th November 2024

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Sustainability Award 2024 in partnership with Heritage Crafts. This year, two outstanding craftspeople have been recognised for their pioneering work in sustainable craftsmanship — Allister Malcolm for ‘Incremental Changes to Environmental Sustainability’ and QEST Alumni Rachael Colley for ‘Innovative Approaches to Environmental Sustainability’.
The QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award was created to celebrate makers who have made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of their craft practice. Following the success of the inaugural year in 2023, the two categories were formed, each honouring different aspects of sustainable practices.


The judging panel comprised journalist, Roddy Clarke; QEST Ambassador, interiors editor and brand consultant, Kerryn Harper-Cuss; Heritage Crafts Trustee and photographer, Jo Sealey; and QEST CEO, Deborah Pocock. Together, they selected winners who demonstrated innovation, commitment, and dedication to sustainability within their crafts. The winners were presented with a hand-crafted trophy by QEST Turners’ Company Emerging Maker Geoff Hannis, and a £1,000 prize at the prestigious awards ceremony held at Eltham Palace.


Allister Malcolm – Incremental Changes to Environmental Sustainability Winner
Based in Stourbridge Glass Museum in the West Midlands, Allister Malcolm is a celebrated glass artist with over 25 years of experience. Since April 2023, Allister has implemented significant changes to his practice, focusing on the reduction of energy consumption to reduce the workshops carbon footprint. Allister also created a video documenting the process which has been used as a resource by glass makers world-wide. Serving as a model for both the glass industry and the wider craft sector, Allister’s practice is a testament to his dedication and persistence in advancing processes to reduce their environmental impact.



Rachael Colley – Innovative Approaches to Environmental Sustainability Winner
Rachael Colley is a jeweller, metalwork and 2021 QEST Howdens Scholar, whose innovative practice celebrates materials and making. Based in Sheffield, Rachel creates ambiguous artefacts that challenge one’s collective connections with food and communicate aspects of her lived experience with ASD and the autoimmune disease, systemic sclerosis. Rachael’s work not only challenges notions of value and consumption but also inspires future generations of makers to explore sustainable materials and processes.



The 2024 Award Trophy
The award trophies, presented to each winner, was crafted by QEST Alumni Geoff Hannis, a woodturner known for his sustainable approach to sourcing local, responsibly managed wood. Made of two parts, the handled natural-edge bowls were made from wych elm, cut from a Mendips hedgerow and destined for firewood while the bases were made from Jarrah recycled from the SS Great Britain deck from the Bristol Wood Recycling Project.
Geoff says “It’s been a pleasure making and delivering these. I am drawn to using materials from the living world that can regrow if given the conditions, space and time, and which take low embodied energy to remove and manufacture. Wood ticks all the boxes on this. … By making objects, such as these bowls, the carbon is effectively stored until such time as they themselves rot or are burnt.”
Additional Acknowledgments
We were honoured to see so many QEST Alumni recognised for their exceptional skill and contributions to craft:
- QEST Scholar Cara Murphy won the Northern Ireland Maker of the Year. QEST Scholar Aaron Leach was a finalist.
- QEST Garfield Weston Foundation Scholar Nick Gill won the England Maker of the Year.
- QEST Benefact Trust Apprentice Marlene Magnado was a finalist for the Trainee of the Year.
- QEST Scholar Gail McGarva BEM won the President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund. The trophy was made by QEST D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Scholar Eddy Bennett.
- QEST Scholar and Skills Assessor Shem Mackey won Woodworker of the Year. QEST Scholar Bob Johnston was a finalist.
- QEST Pewterers’ Company Scholar Epona Smith was a finalist for Precious Metalworker of the Year and QEST Mark & Tara Boddington Emerging Maker Caitlin Murphy was a finalist for Young Metalworker of the Year award.
- Finally, QEST Scholar Vivienne Lake made an incredible trophy for the Fashion Textile Maker of the Year.

Lulu Harrison, 2023 Sustainability Award Winner
In 2023, Lulu, a QEST Johnnie Walker Scholar, was the inaugural winner of the Sustainability Award. Her practice incorporates waste materials from the fishing industry into her glassmaking process, demonstrating how traditional craft skills can be used to address contemporary environmental challenges. Read more here.

The Partnership
Heritage Crafts supports and advocates for traditional craft skills in the UK. Its awards, including the Sustainability Award in partnership with QEST, celebrate those craftspeople who demonstrate excellence in their field. Through our partnership we promote the importance of sustainability and innovation within the UK’s rich craft sector to ensure it thrives for future generations.
QEST is seeking a sponsor for the 2025 Sustainability Award. Contact the QEST team to discuss opportunities.