Allistair Covell will launch #CanvasToCarpet, his debut collection of hand knotted wool rugs, at the trade show Designersblock Edition 18 from the 24th – 27th September 2015 at the Bargehouse exhibition space, part of The London Design Festival’s new Bankside Design District. Allistair has been selected by Arts Thread to present his rug collection as part of their new talent showcase and will be appearing alongside other emerging designers from within the UK and internationally.

The #CanvasToCarpet rug collection is inspired by Allistair’s vibrant and colourful paintings and digital sketches. The expressive brush strokes and splashes of colour that are frequent in his artwork have been faithfully translated into woven knots to create dynamic artworks for interior spaces, whether the rug is displayed on the floor or on a wall. Allistair’s rugs have achieved that rare quality of looking aesthetically pleasing as an interior product yet still keeping the spontaneity and distinctive style of his original paintings. Hand woven and crafted in Nepal and Afghanistan by expert weavers, the collection currently includes four rugs: Eclipse, Paint, Rhythm and The City.

In January 2014 Allistair won the AfghanMade Best Young Designer Award at the prestigious Carpet Design Awards ceremony, held at DOMOTEX Hannover, the world’s leading flooring trade show. The AfghanMade Best Young Designer category at the Carpet Design Awards 2014 was introduced to inspire young designers to create contemporary carpet designs that would be modern in style but showcase traditional weaving techniques. Allistair’s winning rug, The City, inspired by his painting Study of The City, was handmade in Afghanistan and created using hand-spun wool and natural vegetable dyes.

Designersblock Edition 18 takes place at the Bargehouse, an exhibition space in Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank and is part of The Icon Design Trail within the Bankside Design District during The London Design Festival 2015. Designersblock have been producing major annual international design shows since 1998. They design and deliver unique exhibitions, events and experiences in the UK and internationally working with a huge network of independent designers, creative partners, commercial clients and brands to bring the most innovative ideas to the widest possible audience.

Entry to Designersblock is free for industry professionals and the public but registering to attended is required prior to entrance: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/designersblock-london-2015-tickets-18095427912

Arts Thread is the world’s leading network for new creatives and bridges the gap between education and the creative industry. Arts Thread has worked with Designerblock for over four years and both share a mutual focus on unearthing, launching and nurturing upcoming designers. Arts Thread uses its database of graduate designers to curate a shortlist of suitable candidates whose work fits Designersblock’s profile. For more information on Arts Thread please visit: http://www.artsthread.com

The London Design Festival is one of the world’s most important design events that celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world and runs from the 19th – 27th September 2015. For more details on The London Design Festival 2015 and the various events that are happening around the capital please visit: http://www.londondesignfestival.com

Allistair’s current studio is located within a 17th Century Farmhouse which is part of Digswell Arts, an organisation devoted to supporting new talent. For more information on Allistair and his work please visit his website: www.allistaircovell.com