IT was the first time that talented textile design student Aimee Larson had ever used a loom.

But the artwork she created has landed her a prize in one of the industry’s most respected award schemes.

Aimee, aged 19, is in the first year of her degree course in textiles with surface design at Huddersfield University.

Now her woven piece – about a foot square and made from an experimental variety of yarns and fabrics – has taken first prize in the prestigious Holland and Sherry Award.

The contest is sponsored by Holland and Sherry, which was established in 1836 and one of the world’s leading suppliers of luxury woollen cloth.

The £250 award is aimed at first-year students and is one of the categories in the annual prize scheme run since 1923 by the Bradford Textile Society.

Her award-winning creation was inspired by a visit to the Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield, with fellow first-year students and tutor Nicola Perren.

Aimee, pictured, was drawn to a 1958 painting entitled Newlyn, Cornwall, by the artist Paul Feiler.

"After that first visit I went a few more times to the Hepworth because I was really interested in the piece," said Aimee, who is from North Wales.

"I really like the colours and the textures within the piece. There is a vertical linear pattern within it that struck me as similar to a weave."

She drew her own design and worked out how it could be woven on a table loom at the university. It was her first time as a weaver, but the process came naturally, said Aimee.

Now she hopes to use textiles to create artworks and installations rather than fabrics for clothing.

"I have known since I was quite young that I wanted to work with textiles. I just always liked to draw and sew," said Aimee.

Aimee is one of four Huddersfield University students to gain Bradford Textile Society awards this year.

Tamsyn Ainsworth and Naomi Scrafton, also first-year students, were commended in the Holland and Sherry Award while Rose Street-Simmons, who is in the final year of her surface design course, was commended in the Bradford College Textile Archive Award.

The winning entries were exhibited at Salt’s Mill, in Saltaire, which was also the venue for the awards ceremony.