'Open My Heart', Rie Aoki

'Open My Heart', Rie Aoki, judged winner of the Word and Image category and winner of the People's prize 2006, Inspired by 2006

'Open My Heart'
Rie Aoki
Judged winner of the Word and Image category and the People's prize 2006
Inspired by 2006

Winner Rie Aoki with Assistant Curator of Word & Image Sonia Solicari

'Open My Heart' was made by Rie Aoki during her book illustration class at Chelsea College of Art and Design.

Inspired by: Room 114c, Ironwork, V&A Interior
'The Ironwork gallery guided me into a very imaginative world. Its atmosphere is something similar to lino cut printing.'

Room 114c, Ironwork

Her judges commented: 'We selected this work as it is both beautifully executed and wonderfully touching. The artist has perfectly captured the chaotic, intricate, fantastical mood of the V&A' s ironwork collection, producing a piece that is imaginative and inventive. The idea behind this piece and the detail with which it is realised make it an extremely enjoyable and satisfying work of design. The effectively handled lino cut makes a meaningful visual and conceptual connection with the medium of ironwork, crossing scale and technique.'

'Ascent', Brigitte Evill

'Ascent', Brigitte Evill, judged winner of the Sculpture category, Inspired by 2006

'Ascent'
Brigitte Evill
Judged winner of the Sculpture category
Inspired by 2006

Winner Brigitte Evill with Assistant Curator of Sculpture Ruth Cribb

'Ascent' was made by Brigitte Evill during her exploring sculpture class at Morley College.

Inspired by: Pulpit, 19th century, cast after a marble original by Giovanni Pisano,1260, Museum no. Repro.1865-52, Room 46b, Cast Courts
'I was inspired by this piece at first because of the sheer skill in the workmanship, and also the amount of time spent building such a piece.'

Pulpit, 19th century, Giovanni Pisano,1260. Museum no. Repro.1865-52, Room 46b,Cast Courts

Her judges commented: 'Ideas surrounding spiritual and physical ascension are beautifully represented in these steps, which were inspired by work of immense technical skill and dedication.'

'Cubist Necklace', Catherine Morris

'Cubist Necklace', Catherine Morris, judged winner of the Metalwork and Jewellery category, Inspired by 2006

'Cubist Necklace'
Catherine Morris
Judged winner of the Metalwork and Jewellery category
Inspired by 2006

Winner Catherine Morris with Curator of Metalwork and Jewellery Megan Thomas

'Cubist Necklace' was made by Catherine Morris during her jewellery class at Richmond Adult Community College.

Inspired by: From an Office Window, 1918, By Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson, Museum no. E.2972-1962
'My necklace was inspired by the hat and three dimensional shapes that stand alone or overlap and interact with each other in this Cubist print.'

From an Office Window, Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson, 1918. Museum no. E.2972-1962

Her judges commented: 'Through this necklace Nevinson's angular shapes are reworked in three dimensions. The print  is used as a departure point from which the maker has been inspired to produce a beautiful and wearable piece of jewellery.'

'Slab Piece', Jonathan Wood

'Slab Piece', Jonathan Wood, judged winner of the Ceramic category, Inspired by 2006

'Slab Piece'
Jonathan Wood
Judged winner of the Ceramic category
Inspired by 2006

Winner Jonathan Wood with Curator of Ceramic Judith Crouch

‘Slab piece’ was made by Jonathan Wood during his structured ceramics class at City Lit.

Inspired by: Two fragments of red patterned silk, 700-900, Museum no. Ch.00176.a&b, Room 98, Textiles
'I was touched by the delicacy of the textile fragments and was interested in the juxtaposition of softness and hardness.'

Two fragments of red patterned silk, 700–900. Museum no. Ch.00176.a&b, Room 98,Textiles

His judges commented: 'We found it intriguing that Jonathan Wood was inspired not by glamorous garments or dramatic textiles but by small fragments of fragile silk, the only remaining vestiges of what were once whole textile objects. He was interested in the delicacy  of these disintegrating excavated strips of material and how to interpret them in the harder medium of clay. He has done so by using slip transfers on a highly-textured and fissured clay slab structure. 'Slab Piece' is subtle and detailed in its texture, patterning and colouring and more than achieves Mr. Wood's stated aim of producing a 'delicately brittle' work of great exuberance.'

'Dancing in the Cinders', Jane Dorner

'Dancing in the Cinders', Jane Dorner, judged winner of the Glass category, Inspired by 2006

'Dancing in the Cinders'
Jane Dorner
Judged winner of the Glass category
Inspired by 2006

Winner Jane Dorner with Curator of Glass Judith Crouch

'Dancing in the Cinders' was made by Jane Dorner during her glass engraving class at Morley College.

Inspired by: Rack of kitchen implements, About 17th century, Netherlands, Museum no.M.121 to G-1925, Room 114a, Ironwork
'I knew as soon as I saw the set of kitchen implements that they would form the core of my idea. I felt I could do something jaunty with them and they appealed to my sense of humour.'

Rack of kitchen implements, About 17th century. Museum no.M.121 to G-1925, Room 114a, Ironwork

Her judges commented: 'We were impressed that Jane Dorner had not only engraved this dish but had even blown the piece herself. It is both imaginative and amusing, drawing inspiration from three quite diverse museum objects - made from different materials, from different countries and periods and from three different galleries. She has combined these into one amusing and charming whole. She shows a flair for overall design and layout, delicate  craftsmanship and engraved detail which is of a remarkable standard for a beginner.'

Necklace, Tamsin Browne

Necklace, Tamsin Browne, judged winner of Asian category, Inspired by 2006

Necklace
Tamsin Browne
Judged winner of Asian category
Inspired by 2006

Winner Tamsin Browne with Curator of South and South-East Asia Helen Persson

This untitled necklace was made by Tamsin Browne during her NCFE jewellery design class at Plymouth College of Art and Design.

Inspired by: Shoulder guard, 17th century, By Nagasone Kotetsu, Museum no.M.968-1916, Room 45, Japan
'It is the marrying of the weight of armour and war, with the delicacy and poetics of nature, balanced within the design work, that inspires me.'

Shoulder guard, Nagasone Kotetsu, 17th century. Museum no.M.968-1916, Room 45, Japan

Her judges commented: 'This entry evoked entirely the spirit of Inspired by...  It is a delicately crafted, original piece of design which maintains a transparent reference to its inspiration source. We felt the piece showed the journey that the creator had gone through whilst simultaneously producing an aesthetically pleasing and technically accomplished piece of jewellery.'

And all will be well, and all will be well

And all will be well, and all will be well, and all that matters will be well, Uju Obi, judged winner of the Textile and Fashion category, Inspired by 2006

And all will be well, and all will be well, and all that matters will be well
Uju Obi
Judged winner of the Textile and Fashion category
Inspired by 2006

Winner of Textiles and Fashion Uju Obi with Project Co-ordinator Emmanuelle Cirier

'And all will be well, and all will be well, and all that matters will be well' was made by Uju Obi during her embroidered textiles class at City Lit.

Inspired by: Les Ailes dans le Vent, 1914-22, Plate XII, France, Museum no. 95.JJ.24.
'I was inspired by the vibrant pattern of the flowers and the migrating birds, which to me suggest spring and new beginnings.'

Les Ailes dans le Vent, 1914–22, Plate XII, France, Museum no.95.JJ.24.

'Museum in a Time of Conflict', Chris Edwards

'Museum in a Time of Conflict', Chris Edwards, judged winner of the Janet Cobb prize, Inspired by 2006

'Museum in a Time of Conflict'
Chris Edwards
Judged winner of the Janet Cobb prize
Inspired by 2006

Winner of the Janet Cobb's prize Chris Edwards with Director of Teaching and Learning at Richmond Adult Community College, Richard Pilkington

'Museum in a Time of Conflict' was made by Chris Edwards during his studio glass class at Richmond Adult Community College.

Inspired by: Bomb damage to the Exhibition Road façade of the V&A, 1939-45
'The V&A as custodian and protector is exampled to me by the physical damage caused by bombs in WW2. This damage has been deliberately left un-repaired and marked with a factual inscription. Thus it has become an exhibit.'

Bomb damage to the Exhibition Road façade of the V&A, 1939–45

His judges commented: 'The Janet Cobb award is in memory of an art student who overcame the barriers to adult learning to become an inspiration to her classmates. This year's award goes to Chris Edwards at Richmond Adult Community College for his high standard of artistic creativity and technical skill, together with the evidence that he has reaped life changing benefits from his adult art class; Chris said that he has reconnected with the pleasure of learning for learning's sake and has learned to see as opposed to merely looking.'

'Urban Love', Damion Curran

'Urban Love', Damion Curran, winner of the Access category, Inspired by 2006

'Urban Love'
Damion Curran
Judged winner of the Access category
Inspired by 2006

Marilyn Greene, Inspired by 2005 co-ordinator, showing Winner of Access Damion Curran’s artwork

'Urban Love' was made by Damion Curran during his visual art class at Dudley College.

Inspired by: Self-Portrait in a Landscape, 1921, By Leon Underwood, Museum no. E.2920-1921
'My artwork was inspired by Leon Underwood's self-portrait in a landscape because it shows peace and tranquillity.'

Self-Portrait in a Landscape, Leon Underwood, 1921. Museum no.E.2920-1921

Untitled, Michelle Carvalho

Untitled, Michelle Carvalho, judged winner of the V&A Workshops category, Inspired by 2006

Untitled
Michelle Carvalho
Judged winner of the V&A Workshops category
Inspired by 2006

Winner of V&A workshops Michelle Carvalho with Disability and Access Officer Barry Ginley

Inspired by: William Frederick, 2nd Duke of Gloucester, about 1820, attributed to Giovanni Battista Comolli, Museum no. A.69-1965, Grand Entrance
'I took photographs in the collection of buddhas and in between captured this photo, which I was very pleased with.'

'Exotica', Jannette Gay

'Exotica', Jannette Gay, judged winner of the Adult Learners category, Inspired by 2006

'Exotica'
Jannette Gay
Judged winner of the Adult Learners category
Inspired by 2006

Winner of Adult Learners Jannette Gay with Project Co-ordinator Emmanuelle Cirier

'Exotica' was made by Jannette Gay during her papier-mâché arts and crafts class at Richmond Adult Community College.

Inspired by: The Queen of Oudh's costume, Mid 19th century, India, Museum no.0645-IS, Room 41, South Asia
'Flamboyant in colour and intricate in pattern, combined with softness of flow, this costume encouraged me to use the same colouring, using wired ribbons and coloured braids to match it.'

The Queen of Oudh’s costume, Mid 19th century. Museum no.0645-IS, Room 41, South Asia

'To Joey', Akemi Sugawara

'To Joey', Akemi Sugawara, judged winner by the Theatre Museum, Inspired by 2006

'To Joey'
Akemi Sugawara
Judged winner by the Theatre Museum
Inspired by 2006

Theatre Museum's winner Akemi Sugawara with Theatre Museum Curator Cathy Haill

'To Joey' was made by Akemi Sugawara during her jewellery class at Morley College.

Inspired by: Cruet in the shape of Joseph Grimaldi, 1850, Museum no. S.913-1981, Main Galleries, Theatre Museum
'I was very impressed by Joseph Grimaldi's story, being the first proper clown. I thought I would like to make jewellery around the Grimaldi-clown-circus-ring theme.'

Cruet in the shape of Joseph Grimaldi, 1850. Museum no. S.913-1981, Main Galleries, Theatre Museum

Her judges commented: 'This year there was quite a variety of designs submitted for this prize, and although we were pleased with various aspects of all the entries, the design by Akemi Sugawara stood out for several reasons. Not only were the judges impressed by the finished design, they were also pleased that Akemi had looked at several sources in the museum for her inspiration, including a silver cruet set figurine of the great clown Joseph Grimaldi, circus posters, and even a 1960s set model. The clown Joseph Grimaldi was her starting point and although Grimaldi himself was never a circus clown, his comic timing, athleticism and fantastic costumes soon made Clown the most important figure in 19th century pantomime. Inspired by Grimaldi, clowning became an important feature of circus, along with performing animals who also feature in Akemi's necklace, which can also be worn as a brooch.  The way she has combined the various elements of the circus is ingenious, and the circular design echoes the image of a circus ring when worn as a necklace. The use of a mixture of materials and techniques makes for a fascinating object in texture and appearance, as does the use of a combination of circular and cut-out shapes. The judges were also impressed with the variety of techniques used for surface decorating and joining.