Gift entrepreneur David Hicks has announced the winner of his first annual search for design talent. Vicky Yorke, a surface pattern designer and illustrator working from her home studio in semi-rural Worcestershire, has designs inspired by the beautiful countryside that surrounds her home. Collections in her portfolio include vibrant florals and animals, as well as patterns influenced by travels both in the UK and beyond. Vicky's Wild At Heart collection was first inspired by a trip to the safari park in Kidderminster, near to where she lives. The judging panel consisted of one of the U.S.'s biggest distributors, Alan Harnik of Notes & Queries, Jenny Cummins of Australian gift and card distributor McMillan, Claire Castle, a buyer for WH Smith, Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings and Mark Janson-Smith, owner of Postmark gift stores. Vicky will now gain the opportunity to have her work published and taken to market globally, plus a £1,000 cash prize. Really Good founder David Hicks said: “Vicky Yorke was the standout designer who not only fit in with our style but also, planning ahead as we do, could be released in six months' time and be interesting for design content. I'm thrilled that she's won this first annual demanding competition.”
Posted: 18 October 2018