‘Following the Best of British Open Design Call held at Liberty of London on 6 February, which attracted almost 1,000 entrants, I have been chosen to supply a collection of silk scarves. I will also be appearing in a BBC2 series showing products develop from idea to high street shelf, to be presented by Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis!‘

For the last five years Richard has been developing a digital database of high-resolution images from natural materials such as minerals and rocks with which to make everything from fashion fabrics to jewellery, architectural glass to rugs and carpets. He comments: ‘I’m delighted at this opportunity because I’ve always seen Liberty as the ideal outlet for much of what I do. But getting into a store of its stature was next to impossible until this radical new approach to finding talent, which was pioneered in New York by Ed Burstell, their new Director of Buying.’

The image above right shows a dress from the “Tectonica” Collection by Sophie Shardelow, made using silk printed with designs from agate.