The Master presents prizes at Wendy Shorter Interiors student show

Pictured: Wendy Shorter, Miranda Spooner, Janet Heaney, Dids Macdonald OBE and Gabi Fordham.

The Master Dids Macdonald OBE turned out in support of Wendy Shorter Interiors’ student show and presentation day earlier this month.

The show celebrates the hard work of the college’s students and took place at Coursers Farm, Colney Heath on Saturday 20 July.

During the day, the Master presented four stage three students – all of whom achieved distinctions – a £100 prize sponsored by The Furniture Makers’ Company.

The four students that were awarded the prize were Miranda Spooner, Janet Heaney, Gabi Fordham and Christina Rigby.

Commenting on the day, the Master said: “I was just so impressed with both the standard of work and such enthusiasm from all the students. Wendy Shorter Interiors has our full support for the inspiring work that it does.”

The prizes were funded through a bursary of £1,000 that The Furniture Maker’s Company awards the college, as well as other institutions around the UK, to support the development of the makers and designers of tomorrow.

Wendy Shorter Interiors was set up in July 2006 by Wendy Shorter when West Herts College lost their funding for craft courses.

Wendy established the centre to ensure students could complete their assessment work.

Today the institute runs the Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) qualification courses, with students learning both modern and traditional upholstery skills on a range of furniture.