We are delighted to announce Natasha Burns as the winner of our annual Bursary Award. Natasha, who recently graduated from De Montfort University Leicester with a BA (Hons) Design Crafts, drew inspiration from landscapes, coastlines and what can be discovered within them.  Natasha’s submission, which consisted of 3D vessels and mixed media wall art, demonstrated a strong design element and considerable skills in metal forming, construction and piercing, enamelling and decorative techniques. The use of formed copper shim, a limited enamel colour palette and multiple firing and overfiring enabled her to capture the movement, textures and colour of water.

The Bursary Award will allow Natasha to further refine and expand her enamelling skills whilst setting up her studio and introducing enamelling to future undergraduate students as part of her role as Artist in Residence at De Montfort University. 

The Guild is extremely grateful to joint sponsors The British Society of Enamellers, W G Ball Ltd, craft&design Magazine, Milton Bridge Ceramic Colours and Vitrum Signum for supporting the Bursary Award.  Sponsorship will allow Natasha to benefit from conference, workshop and masterclass attendance, printed and online resources, Guild teaching DVDs, free editorial and promotion in craft&design Magazine, a year’s subscription to craft&design, one to one business mentoring, enamel equipment and supplies vouchers, enamel sample sets and one year’s membership of both the Guild of Enamellers and the British Society of Enamellers. 

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Karolina Baines, Justyna Kus, Beatrice Wall and Sophie Warringham were awarded runner-up prizes. The prize packages will encourage Natasha and the runners-up to further develop their enamelling skills and exploration of the medium within the supportive networks offered.

The quality and enthusiasm of all the applicants was noted by the selection panel, and the diversity of work submitted bodes well for the future of enamelling in the UK.

Bursary applications for next year's Award will be available from April 2016.

Click here to go to the GALLERY OF APPLICANTS WORK

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