A DESIGNER could find her work hanging on walls across the world after her art was chosen by a wallpaper manufacturer to feature in its new collection.

Helen Stevens has been picked as one of just 13 designers from across the country to contribute to the 2014 New Wave collection by Graham & Brown.

The Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) graduate, who is also a part-time lecturer at the Hartlepool-based design college was selected along with two of her former students, Kate Usher, 28, of Middlesbrough, and Rachel Hagger, 25, of Darlington.

“It was incredibly flattering to be asked to be part of the new British talent design team for Graham & Brown,” said Miss Stevens, 33, from Middlesbrough.

“It’s a great opportunity for me as a designer to bring high end designs to a mass market which can be sold at a lower margin in global outlets.”

She runs her own successful design company Surfacephilia, creating wallpaper patterns, fabrics, cushions, bone china and bespoke surface patterns for sale online and throughout Japan, Australia and Europe.

“I was so pleased to see that Rachel and Kate were chosen to be part of the project as they were both former degree students of mine at CCAD,”she added.

“I think it shows the strength of the courses at the college, the undoubted talent within the North East and the invaluable knowledge that the tutors pass down to the students.”