BATSFORD PRIZE 2025 ARTIST INTERVIEW: AMBER MOORE

We’re delighted to be speaking with Amber Moore, the 2025 Batsford Prize winner for Applied Art and Textiles. We ask her about her work and the ideas behind it.

HI AMBER! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR PIECE CRAFTING: THE CUMBRIA PALETTE? WHAT IS IT YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY WITH YOUR WORK AND DOES THE FINAL PIECE DIFFER FROM THE ORIGINAL IDEA?

My Crafting: The Cumbria Palette project translates the colours and textures of the Lake District; a place I have spent a significant time in my early years to the present day visiting and I value as a second home. I was combining materials which related to the area such as wood, slate and wool. My theme translates weave, UV print, laser cut, crochet, and knit into a collection for an interior hotel space. My concept was to capture the essence of the Lake District through hand-crafted textiles, highlighting its value and how its inclusion in interior spaces creates a fun and thoughtful atmosphere. My original idea was to always capture the feeling of the Lake District through its colour and texture, I find that as I progressed through the project and executed further research, my ideas just became more refined and presented a clearer concept on what I had initially intended to do. I find the relationship I have with the Lake District creates a personal touch to my work that I can be felt by observing my collection.

WHO ARE YOUR PARTICULAR ARTIST INSPIRATIONS AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU CREATIVELY?

Two artists that inspire my creative process are Vanessa Barragao and Rachel Sophia. They both use yarn-based mediums to produce their pieces, which are textile techniques that I use within my work. Their work highlights the quality of hand-crafted design techniques and both artists present the value and importance of this style of work.

I think the concept of newness motivates me within my work as I love developing and building up ideas to produce new ways to explore textiles I haven’t tried before. I am constantly creating, whether it’s for a personal or university project, I just enjoy the ability to create pieces and collections using yarns and hard materials.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR STUDIES?

After I graduate next year, I plan to continue to pursue textiles and gain more work experience within the industry. My long-term goal is to eventually start my own business, hopefully focusing on selling and teaching hand-crafted textiles, to encourage long lasting bespoke pieces as I enjoy capturing the quality of hand-crafted textiles compared to fast-produced designs that are seen in modern society.

WHAT LED YOU TO CREATE THIS PIECE IN THIS PARTICULAR MEDIUM?

I wanted to be playful and experimental with my materials, combining hard and soft surfaces as I enjoy the contrasting connection between constructed pieces and tactile textiles. I focused on materials that are linked to the area, such as slate, wood and yarn, which I found through written and visual research for the project. For example, a lot of wool is produced in this area due to their sheep heritage, such as the Herdwick sheep, who’s fleece is used by multiple woven companies in the Lake District.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO STUDY TEXTILES AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR COURSE THAT YOU THINK IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE?

I wanted to study textiles as I have always enjoyed exploring craft and have been interested in creating, using textile techniques, since I was 14. The textile course at Arts University Bournemouth allows me the opportunity to experiment with a variety of techniques and to try new things. They encourage you to specialise in a multitude of techniques, which works well with how I cultivate a project as I like to incorporate a variety of techniques such as crochet, knit, laser cutting, weave and digital print.

WHAT DOES WINNING THE BATSFORD PRIZE MEAN TO YOU?

Winning The Batsford Prize was such an honour, it meant a great deal knowing people had appreciated and understood the work I had created as much as I did. This was a great achievement, being the first contest I had entered, I only hope to try and achieve more as I progress into third year.

IF YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S BATSFORD PRIZE, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND WHY?

I think this year’s theme was great as it allowed for a broad interpretation, that I thought was captured by all of the pieces presented in the exhibition. If I was to pick the theme for this year, I think I would have chosen ‘time and care’; people could enter their most prized artwork; a piece they know they have spent significant time on; making sure every detail is what they wanted. This is because I find that one of the most unappreciated aspects about art is the time it takes to make such beautiful work.