Cushy Paws

High commendation for you

Ayoung market trader from Basford has been highly commended at a National Youth Market competition. 27 year old Grace Hancock creates and sells patchwork pet portraits under her brand Cushy Paws. She was recognised by markets industry experts at the competition’s regional heats, which were held in Newcastleunder-Lyme earlier this year.

The award-winning designer set up local business Cushy Paws, in 2017 after graduating from Loughborough University with a First Class Honours degree in Textiles and Innovation Design. Her range includes personalised pet portrait commissions, mugs, prints, tea towels, tote bags, wall-hangings, cushions and greetings cards.

She then went on to compete for the prestigious title of Young Trader of the Year 2020 in the annual competition devised by the NMTF.

Grace told Newcastle Life magazine: “The Final event for the young traders event was amazing! One of the best I have ever been involved in, considering the weather and the current situation. It was such an amazing experience to meet so many young makers/traders my age.

“I entered the competition because I wanted to get involved in the young trader community and I have met so many amazing makers through it, who I wouldn't have met otherwise. I am so glad that Newcastle took

oung creative entrepreneur

part in the opportunity and I hope they do in the future, as I will definitely apply again. I got to meet Nick and Mike and Julie who are now running the Castle Artisan Market (which ran for the first time last month), and honestly it was an amazing event. They had done such a great job and I am gutted not to be there this month with the lockdown restrictions.”

A textile artist and former NewcastleUnder-Lyme school and college student, Grace also has experience of a year in industry, working in London, Whitstable, Stafford, Copenhagen and Sydney. She won her first award at New Designers for her Final Degree show Collection, and exhibited in London where she was chosen by a company called 'Romo' to win the 'Innovation in Design and Colour' award. She then went on to intern for them for 7 months in Nottingham after she graduated.

Grace continued: “Fast forward four years and I am now running my own business in my mum’s house – I have a home studio for Cushy Paws. My business started on my year out on 'placement' year whilst I was interning in Whitstable. We had just had our first family dog called Millie and a ginger cat called Ollie. And my mum wanted Millie's face on a cushion for her dog bed... so she asked me to make one, and I did and so the journey of Cushy Paws began.

“Looking to the future, I would like to firstly survive the pandemic business wise I think that's been my main aim this year. I would love to expand into different products and have my work in galleries and shops around the country, and maybe one day have my own shop or studio that I could run with my mum. I will also be entering the Young Traders event next year too!” www.cushypaws.co.uk

www.facebook.com/cushypawspetportraits www.instagram.com/cushy_paws https://twitter.com/Cushy_Paws www.etsy.com/CushyPawsCo