Rhi Christie, from Cardiff, is celebrating winning the City & Guilds Learner Prize at this year’s Pewter Live, an annual European Design Competition which promotes the use of pewter and innovation in design.
Each year, this important event is supported by City & Guilds through the provision of a cash prize to a student who has produced outstanding work.
Rhi’s entry, entitled ‘No Harmony’, is a pewter-coated ceramic sculpture, which explores how underwater plant life is harmed by human carelessness that destroys their environment.
Talking about the competition, Rhi, who is currently studying for her Masters in Ceramics & Maker at Cardiff Metropolitan University, admitted she was surprised at her win:
“I thought my entry might be disqualified for not using enough pewter, and using the material in a figurative way. So I was shocked and elated when my entry was chosen.
I’m excited to use the funding to purchase the electrical components for my Masters showcase pieces, including a large conch shell you can put your ear to listen to beach sounds from our local Barry island.”
Together with other winning entries from this year’s Pewter Live, her sculpture will be exhibited at London’s V&A museum this summer.
Talking about Rhi’s winning entry, Michael Osbaldeston, Special Advisor at City & Guilds Foundation, and part of the judging panel at this year’s awards, said;
“Congratulations to Rhi on her achievement! The quality of the student work was very high this year, but Rhi Christie’s piece carried such an important message, presented in an impressive and engaging way.”