Artist who designed Swindon's hospital stained glass shortlisted for prestigious national arts award

Amber Hiscott with her window mounted in the atrium (Photo: Richard Wintle. Calyx Multimedia. www.calyxpix.demon.co.uk)

Amber Hiscott, whose large architectural glass panel illuminates the atrium of the Great Western Hospital, reached the shortlist for the prestigious Jerwood Applied Arts Prize 2003.

This year the prize celebrates excellence and originality in contemporary glass from artists across the UK. Now in its ninth year, the country's leading award in the sector is organised by the Craft's Council and funded by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

The shortlisted artists were Alexander Beleschenko, Katharine Coleman, Matthew Durran, Amber Hiscott, Angela Jarman, Helen Maurer, Colin Rennie and Koichiro Yamamoto. The shortlist includes diverse work from both new-generation and mid-career artists. The work is wide-ranging in scale and scope including pieces that bridge the boundaries between craft and fine art, architecture and installation. The prize brings together some of the most outstanding work in glass being produced in this country and shows both inspiring and inspired approaches to the medium.

Amber Hiscott's shortlisted artwork is 'Glass Towers, Cardiff'. Her piece for the Great Western Hospital entitled 'the Journey' was inspired by a walk along the Ridgeway reflecting the hospital theme of journeying and the natural environment. It is made from toughened screen-printed enamelled glass and steel.

Celia Yeoman, Public Arts Officer, Artscape, Swindon Borough Council says 'I am delighted that Amber's work is gaining national recognition and that the Great Western Hospital has been fortunate to commission an artwork of such high quality by such a prestigious architectural glass artist'.

The £15,000 prize was awarded to Helen Maurer on 8 September.