Graduate designer Beth Lingard says she cannot wait to make further inroads into the textile design industry after winning the Premier Digital Textiles Vibrancy in Print Award.
She described landing the prize at New Designers 2025 as “surreal and moving” and has since held collaboration discussions with several design studios.
“Winning the Premier Digital Textiles Vibrancy in Print Award means so much to me — both personally and professionally,” said Beth.
“Not only is it an incredible recognition of my creative journey, but it also gives me the chance to collaborate with Premier Digital Textiles, whose expertise and state-of-the-art digitally prepared fabrics will help bring my designs to life in stunning quality.”
“Ultimately,” she added, “this award has given me such an exciting platform to begin my career.”
Judges praised the Leeds Arts University graduate’s Dusk Till Dawn collection for its depth, vibrancy, and ability to merge traditional craftsmanship with innovative digital processes.
The designs are a series of luxury wallcoverings and furnishing fabrics that explore the dreamlike transition from night to morning. Featuring flora, mystical creatures, and jewel-toned colourways, the collection combines intricate hand-drawn illustrations with digital painting and advanced textile printing.
Premier Digital Textiles (PDT) is Europe’s leading supplier of quality digitally prepared fabrics that are specifically coated for direct to Textile Printing.
The Premier Textile Group have over 4 million metres of fabric housed in 48,000sq ft. of modern storage and distribution facilities in three key locations in the Northwest of England.
Elen Hughes of Premier Digital Textiles said: “We cannot speak highly enough of Beth’s creative ability, attention to detail and exemplary attitude.
“As the winner Beth landed a £500 cash prize, ongoing mentoring, the opportunity to be showcased in OEM demo and experience centres worldwide along with £500 worth of our PrepRITE fabric and print time.
“And she is now collaborating with the Premier Digital Textiles team to develop her portfolio, ensuring her imaginative designs are translated onto textiles of the highest quality.”
Elen added: “One of our missions is to support both emerging and established designers in pushing the boundaries of digital print and we are truly excited to see how Beth’s career unfolds.”
For a full New Designer Spotlight interview with emerging designer Beth Lingard see below.
New Designer Spotlight Interview – Beth Lingard, winner of the Premier Digital Textiles Vibrancy in Print Award
1. Background and inspiration
What first drew you to the world of textile design?
To me, textile design is the transformation of beautiful artworks into decorative, meaningful patterns that enrich our homes, garments, and everyday life. It’s that creative potential that first drew me in.
Who or what are your biggest creative influences?
Like many, my influences stem from the true beauty and wonder of the natural world. I’m constantly inspired by nature, especially the way light shifts with the changing seasons and the rhythm of the day. The landscapes around me, such as the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, serve as ongoing inspiration for much of my drawing.
While I enjoy documenting the reality of nature, I also take great joy in capturing a plethora of imaginative flora and fauna, and in embracing an element of the otherworldly and fantastical within these ecosystems. Whether I’m creating intricate repeats or expansive murals, I aim to transport the viewer into immersive, dreamlike realms.
My biggest influences include creative powerhouses such as Avalana, Emma Shipley, and Emily Carter, alongside inspiring printmakers like Angela Harding and Mark Hearld. Their distinct approaches to storytelling through pattern, texture, and detail have had a lasting impact on my own creative journey.
Can you tell us about the moment you knew you wanted to pursue textile design professionally?
If I’m honest, I don’t think there was ever a time I didn’t want to pursue art and design professionally. It has always been what drives me and where my enthusiasm lies. I first explored fine art and illustration, but it wasn’t until I discovered Sanderson’s beautiful wallpapers in one of my mum’s home magazines that something clicked. I realised textile design was where I could truly bring my craftsmanship in drawing and painting to life - translating my work into wallpaper and fabric felt like the perfect fit.
2. The Award-winning work
What was the concept behind your winning collection?
My collection, titled Dusk Till Dawn, focused on luxury wallcoverings and furnishing designs that offer an escape from the everyday, immersing the viewer in the beauty and opulence of an otherworldly jungle landscape filled with fantastical flora and mystical creatures. It explored the dreamlike transition from dusk to dawn. At twilight, the jungle awakens in a wild, abundant burst of life, while morning brings a quiet promise of renewal and new beginnings.
What techniques and technologies did you use to achieve such vibrant results?
Driven by my love of hand craftsmanship, I began by creating intricate illustrations using fineliner and pencil, exploring the marks, textures and shapes of this imagined paradise. These detailed yet decorative drawings were then digitally painted in rich jewel tones to evoke magical light qualities like bioluminescence and iridescence, with the goal of creating colours that truly glow.
By carefully and patiently building up layers of digital paint using a Wacom tablet, I was able to achieve vividness and depth through tone and texture. The vibrancy in my physical pieces comes from the precision of digital printing at Leeds Arts University, complemented using Contrado and Printfab for my silk and velvet fabrics.
3. Design process
Could you walk us through your design process from idea to final print?
For me, the design process always begins with plenty of research - making concept boards, mind maps, rough sketches, and soaking up inspiration from exhibitions and museums.
Once I’ve gathered my ideas, I start with a rough sketch, thinking carefully about the composition and how the repeat pattern will flow. Then, I use a lightbox to create the final drawing. After that, I scan it at high resolution so I can enlarge the design later and capture every detail. Cleaning up the image in Photoshop is a meticulous process where I prepare the drawing for digital colouring using a Wacom tablet, allowing me to translate my physical colouring onto the screen. Colouring usually begins with experimenting with colour palettes and layouts. It’s a labour-intensive process, but one that truly allows me to express my creativity and achieve success in my work.
How did you approach the use of colour in this project?
Colour was a fundamental part of this project, central to capturing the dreamlike transition from dusk to dawn. The harmonious yet vivid palette depicted deep blues of twilight, gradually shifting into rich purples and magentas, flowing into fuchsias and scarlets, and finally into the golden oranges and fresh greens of morning, creating a vivid and immersive spectrum.
To enhance the sense of opulence and wonder, I incorporated metallic foils and binders in gold and silver, as well as experimenting with coloured foils. These elements added a magical, fantastical layer, bringing light, depth and a sense of enchantment to the work.
How do you balance digital innovation with traditional textile practices in your work?
I’ve always believed that combining traditional craftsmanship and textile practices with innovative digital techniques creates a powerful and successful fusion. This approach allows the artistry of my drawing, painting, and image-making to truly shine through in physical fabrics and papers of exceptional quality-results I wouldn’t be able to achieve through traditional screen-printing processes due to the level of detail in my designs.
What’s your favourite part of the process - sketching, sampling, printing or something else?
My favourite part of the process is definitely the physical act of drawing and painting. I become completely immersed, and there’s always a thrill in seeing the finished piece come to life. A close second is seeing the designs printed onto paper and fabric. Witnessing the commercial quality of my initial ideas is incredibly exciting and never fails to amaze me!
4. Industry and innovation
Digital textile printing is revolutionising the industry by offering unmatched precision, vibrant colours, and limitless design possibilities…
Yes, it enables faster, more sustainable production, making personalised, high-quality designs more accessible than ever. It’s a key part of how I bring my intricate, imaginative work to life with maximum colour impact.
What challenges have you faced as a new designer entering this industry and how did you overcome them?
My journey in the industry is just beginning, and thankfully, brilliant exhibitions like New Designers and Tex+ have given me amazing opportunities and connections. Being part of these events has helped me build a strong network and gain valuable experience, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me.
5. Personal touch
What does this award mean to you personally and professionally?
Winning the ‘Premier Digital Textiles – Vibrancy in Print’ Award at New Designers and hearing my name called was a truly surreal and moving moment. Professionally, it means a lot to me because it gives me the chance to work with the fantastic team at Premier Digital Textiles.
Their expertise and high-quality printing will help me develop my portfolio and bring my detailed designs and vibrant colours to life through beautiful fabric samples.
What advice would you give to emerging designers looking to break into the field?
I truly believe that hard work always pays off. It’s important to make the most of every opportunity, be confident, and put yourself and your work out there. Building connections and staying passionate will help you grow and find your place in the industry.
If you could collaborate with any brand, designer, or studio — who would it be and why?
I’ve always been inspired by brands like the Liberty Design Studio, Sanderson, and Cole & Son, who truly celebrate craftsmanship and luxury. I’m also hugely inspired by the work of Adam Ellis Studio, with its bold, eclectic, and maximalist prints. Collaborating with any of these would be a dream, as they perfectly align with my passion for detailed, vibrant design.
6. Looking ahead
What’s next for you?
Following the success of my recent exhibitions at New Designers and Tex+, I’m currently in discussions with a variety of design studios and individuals. I’m excited about collaborating with them and gaining valuable experience as I take my first steps into the industry!
Are there any exciting projects or collections on the horizon?
Having recently finished my graduate collection, which focused on detailed nature-inspired imagery, I’m now excited to experiment with contrasting themes inspired by urban and architectural shapes such as modern abstract and geometric motifs—passions of mine that I’m eager to explore further.
How do you see your style evolving over the next few years?
I have a strong foundation in detailed watercolour painting from my commission-based art business, which focuses on pet portraits. Building on this fundamental skill, I’d love to incorporate more of these painting techniques into my design work. I’m also eager to develop other styles further, such as flat gouache and looser acrylic painting, to create new textures and expressions within my portfolio.
