A PAIR of Oswestry designers who have been creating public space furniture for more than three decades have been awarded MBEs in the New Year's honours.

James Partridge and Elizabeth Walmsley, known as Jim and Liz, were awarded the MBE for services to design in the honours announced on Friday, December 30.

The pair have worked together for more than 30 years and are renowned for creating unconventional benches in public spaces, plus creating gallery-hosted ceramics bowls.

"Jim and Liz have worked together designing and making furniture and other functional woodwork for over 30 years," according to the pair's website.

"The scope of their work ranges from the small and domestic to monumental outdoor pieces.

"By the time the partnership began Jim had already established a reputation for his vessels and small scale furniture.

"Initially they worked on outdoor projects, building public seats, footbridges, and shelters. They have always said that their intention was to make “work with a strong but quiet presence in the landscape”.

"This statement remains true, even though they have broadened that landscape to include built environments.

"Projects include an altar for Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, seats for Compton Verney Art Gallery, RHS Wisley and Warwick University, furniture for Ruthin Crafts Centre, a bridge in North Wales and the large Ridgeons seat in CB1 Cambridge.

"More recently a series of work for the Harley Gallery at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire which involved a redesign of the reception area, seating for inside and outside the new gallery to house the Portland collection, and outdoor cafe furniture."

The pair have also displayed their work closer to home with an exhibition at the Oswald Road-based Qube as galleries in Oxford, Edinburgh, Ruthin, in North Wales, and London including the Victoria & Albert Museum.