Raychel Murphy, a Donegal textile artist from Ballybofey, is this week celebrating her success in Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards & Supports Programme.

Raychel was presented with the Craft Skills Award at a creative ceremony for ‘Future Makers’, one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe for students and emerging makers.

Raychel Murphy, winner of the Craft Skills Award

The judges said that Raychel’s work presented “a mix of technical processes and a new take on traditional craft skills. Subject matter was a humorous take on modern Irish culture, with a refreshing style.”

Click on the images to check out Raychel’s innovative and humourous creations here:

Raychel crafted her skills in Textiles, Surface Pattern Design & Fashion at Ulster University in Belfast while specialising in Digital Embroidery.

She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from Queens University, Belfast, before moving to London in June 2018 to complete internships with Hand & Lock London and Wilcom Embroidery in Chesterfield, UK.

The Craft Skills Award, worth €1,500, was presented to Raychel at a ceremony in The Westbury, Dublin on Thursday, July 12th.

Raychel and Laura Murphy, pictured at Design &Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards & Supports awards at The Westbury, Dublin. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Raychel was among 22 students and emerging designers and craftspeople who have received awards and supports totalling €23,500 through the DCCoI Future Makers programme.

A record 191 online applications were received and assessed by judges this year, 41 were short-listed and narrowed down to 22 successful applicants.

Demonstrating traditional and contemporary techniques as well as imagination, innovation and skilful execution, the applicants come from a broad range of disciplines, from glass making to fashion, ceramics to jewellery making, and from across the island of Ireland.

Design &Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards & Supports award winners at The Westbury, Dublin.

Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, said: “The Future Makers Awards & Supports programme is one of many initiatives that the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland has established to provide practical supports to emerging creatives in developing their skills, evolving their practice, promoting their work and building careers both in Ireland and abroad.

“Investing in the development of the next generation of Ireland’s designers and craftspeople through our Future Makers programme is crucial in order to create a pipeline of talent and pave the way for a strong, dynamic and innovative design and craft sector into the future.

“We hope to work with these up-and-coming designers and makers as DCCoI-registered client enterprises in the years to come, supporting their potential to grow and generate employment opportunities. We wish them every success as they establish their careers.”