Leading silversmith and University of Ulster academic, Cara Murphy, has scooped the top award at the RDS National Craft Competition in Dublin.

Cara, Associate Lecturer in Silversmithing and Jewellery at Ulster, won the coveted Award of Excellence and California Gold Medal and 7,000 euro, with her stunning creation, ‘Disperse’.

The large, silver, sculptural ‘table’, has six seed heads ‘growing’ through it, to allow the piece to interact with the table and metaphorically grow from it.

Inspired by the natural environment, this work of art is crafted using traditional silversmithing techniques.

Said Cara: “I am absolutely thrilled to win this major award and it is wonderful to have gained this recognition, not only for my own work, but for the art of silversmithing.

“With the new term starting soon at the University of Ulster, I hope this will inspire our students.”

The RDS National Crafts Competition boasts a prize fund in excess of 28,000 euro over 20 different categories and is one of Europe’s leading, independently adjudicated craft competitions.

‘Disperse’ will be showcased, along with other winning competition pieces in an exhibition which is open from 10 am until 5pm from today and will be part of the Dublin Horse Show taking place at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin from August 15 to 19.

Cara, who is renowned for her exquisite silverware pieces, is represented in many national and international public and private collections.

One of her most famous creations entered the corridors of power when it was given pride of place at the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street last year.

Entitled ‘Contour’, the highly acclaimed desk set was commissioned by The Silver Trust, was three years in the making and crossed the Irish Sea at least eight times to undergo various processes including hallmarking, polishing and engraving.