A former Chichester College student has been awarded with a coveted City & Guilds Medal for Excellence.

Cherie Newnham, who completed a City & Guilds Upholstery course last year, was awarded the medal for her upholstery work.

The award celebrates the achievements of learners and tutors across the globe, recognising those who have gone above and beyond what is expected of them.

Since completing her course, Cherie has joined the Upholstery and Soft Furnishing department at Chichester – passing on what she has learnt to new students.

Cherie said: “When my tutor Sue Handson told me that she would like to nominate me for the City & Guilds Medal for Excellence award I felt overwhelmed and was so delighted to even be considered as a candidate.

“Since completing the course I went on to start my own upholstery business – Wirebird Designs – taking on individual commissions and selling one off pieces. It was during this time that I found out that I had been awarded the winner of the Medal for Excellence. It was the cherry on the cake!

“I am hugely proud to have received the award and now combine customer commissions with teaching at the college, hopefully inspiring the next generation of creative upholsterers.”

Cherie was nominated for the Medal for Excellence by lecturer Sue Handson, who said: “This is such a well deserved award.

“Cherie demonstrated a professional approach to her studies and was always willing to experiment and develop her ideas, showing a very keen eye for detail.

“Her dedication and determination resulted in a range of unique and interesting pieces, and it is fantastic to see her now passing on her skills to our students. We are all so very proud of her.”