Outstanding Piece Award – The Winners
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! After weeks of anticipation and deliberation, we are thrilled to announce the winner of the Outstanding Piece Award at the Folksy Summer Exhibition 2024. Our esteemed judging panel from Find A Maker, Fred Aldous and Pedddle had the challenging task of selecting a winner from an exceptional shortlist of eight pieces, whittled down from a longlist of 20. Each piece was a testament to the incredible talent and creativity within the Folksy community, making the decision a truly difficult one.
And the winner is…
Claire Gent’s Arctic Explorer Brooch
This stunning piece captivated our judges with its exquisite craftsmanship, experimental techniques and strong story. This one-of-a-kind brooch brings together Claire’s love of painting and jewellery design. Through trial and error, Claire found ways to incorporate paint leftover on her palette from her paintings into her jewellery, creating beautiful painted landscapes you can wear.
“Claire’s work has a strong sense of narrative and I was particularly drawn to her polar bear on the ice. I see it as a symbol of hope for a better world. I really enjoy watching how Claire is constantly evolving her practice – she has very distinctive ranges within her work, but they all work together beautifully. I am delighted to give Claire her award and warmly welcome her into the Find a Maker family,” said judge Sarah James MBE, founder of Find A Maker and Craft Festival.
Follow Claire Gent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairegentdesign/
The Winner Will Receive:
- £100 to spend at Fred Aldous – A treasure trove of creative supplies to fuel future projects.
- A one-year Pedddle membership – Connecting makers with markets and showcasing their work to an audience of craft lovers.
- A place on the prestigious Find A Maker directory – Joining the ranks of some of the UK’s finest makers.
- £100 to spend on Folksy – To treat themselves to something handmade that they love.
Runners-Up:
We are also delighted to announce the two runners-up, who will each receive £50 to spend on Folksy:
Runner-Up 1
“Message in a Bottle: Family Pack” by Nerissa Cargill Thompson
The judges were struck by this bold and intriguing sculpture, part of a series of work exploring the problem of plastic pollution, specifically single-use disposable plastic bottles. Nerissa’s sculptures combines textiles and concrete – two materials not usually seen together; one light, tactile and traditionally domestic, the other heavy, grey and industrial. The judges were equally fascinated by the techniques on display: casting embellished and embroidered recycled fabric in cement inside found water bottles. The resulting pieces existing as a beautiful warning about the long-lasting impact of our daily habits. You can read more about Nerissa’s work here – https://www.textileartist.org/nerissa-cargill-thompson-casting-threads/
Follow Nerrisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerissact
Runner-Up 2
“Hummingbirds with Wild Penstemon Flowers” by Mindful Felting
These tiny, joyful jewels of wool, silk and wire delighted the judges. Made as a commission, these beautiful needle-felt Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds stood out for their creativity, and the judges loved the way they captured the birds’ movement and character. A wonderful example of the possibilities of fibre art.
Follow Mindful Felting on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindfulfelting
A Word from the Judges
The judges were blown away by the quality of work on display this year. Each of the eight shortlisted pieces demonstrated a deep commitment to craft, and the decision-making process was not easy. The diversity of styles, the innovation shown, and the sheer talent across all the entries were truly inspiring.
“Selecting a winner was incredibly challenging given the high standard of work. Each piece had its own unique qualities, but these three pieces particularly resonated with us for their creativity, storytelling and emotional impact,” said Nicki Capewell, founder of Pedddle.
A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our exhibition sponsors – Find A Maker, Fred Aldous and Pedddle – for their generous support and for helping us shine a spotlight on the amazing talent within the Folksy community. Their contributions have made the Outstanding Piece Award a reality, providing our winner with fantastic opportunities to further their craft.
Congratulations to All
Finally, we want to congratulate not only our winner and runners-up but all the makers who were longlisted and shortlisted for the Folksy Summer Exhibition 2024, as well as everyone who had a piece on show in this year’s Summer Exhibition and Summer Selling Show. Your passion, dedication and talent are what make the Folksy community so vibrant and inspiring. We encourage everyone to continue supporting these incredible makers by exploring and sharing their work.
Explore all the pieces: https://folksy.com/summer-exhibition-2024
Follow us on Instagram for more inspiring art and craft: https://www.instagram.com/folksyhq/
