We are thrilled that several of our Degree and Future Tutor Graduates of 2021 have been shortlisted for this year’s Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery!

Congratulations to: Felicity Billing and Millie Whitehead in the Fashion Student Category; Kate Pankhurst and Rebecca Offredi in the Textile Art Student Category; Sabina De Oliveira Lima in the Textile Art Open Category; Georgie Pike and Kate Pankhurst for the Gold & Silver Wyre Drawers Associate Award and Lucy Martin for the RSN Associate Award for Innovation & Technical Excellence in Hand Embroidery.

We can’t wait to find out the winners which will be announced at the prize giving event on 4 November.

For the second consecutive year, the RSN is proud to be an Associate of the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery, recognising and supporting new talent in the design industries. This year Hand & Lock will be exhibiting at the Bargehouse Oxo Tower in London from 3 – 7 November. The exhibition called ‘Embroidered Arts’ will feature emerging designers alongside works of artisan makers and contemporary artists.

In addition, the exhibition will be accompanied by a curated schedule of talks, events and workshops based around the preservation of contemporary embroidered arts and craftsmanship. You can join the RSN at the ‘Embroidered Arts’ event on 5 November. Our Chief Executive Dr Susan Kay-Williams and RSN Senior Lecturer Amy Hare will be giving Talks. Join Susan for ‘Technical Excellence with Artistic Innovation and The Forward-Looking Royal School of Needlework’ and join Amy for ‘Object Lesson: Embroidery & Self-Fashioning in the Royal School of Needlework Collection.’   Information about the Talks

We are also running two workshops – ‘Heart of Gold’, an introduction to Goldwork embroidery and ‘Hearts & Flowers’, an introduction to surface stitched embroidery.

Industry expert judges will join Hand & Lock at the November exhibition to judge the finalists’ work on display and announce the winners. The expert judges include Anthea Godfrey, Jenny King, Karen Nicol, Elizabeth Elvin, Justine Bonenfant, Polly Kenny and Polly Leonard, whom between them have showcased their skills and knowledge amongst international fashion brands and within the industry for many decades. Prizes range from associate awards, from industry professionals and companies, to monetary rewards for the 1st place winners.

Last year with the pandemic, the Hand & Lock Prize went virtual however, for 2021 the brand and foundation are thrilled to celebrate the creative industry once again in person. The exhibition welcomes embroidery enthusiasts, contemporary art lovers, students, fashion influencers and London tourists alike.    Tickets are available to purchase online: £8.50 general admission and £10.50 general admission and guided tour.

Good luck to all our shortlisted students at the prize giving event!

Images featured are:  RSN Degree Graduates 2021 – Lucy Martin, Millie Whitehead, Georgie Pike , Felicity Billing and Rebecca Offredi; RSN Future Tutor Graduate 2021 Kate Pankhurst and RSN Degree Student Sabina Lima.