SIX textile students are on track to have their designs shortlisted to take pride of place at stations along the new Borders Railway due to open next year.

Transport Scotland approached the Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels to run a competition among students to create a public artwork to mark the opening of the new railway and also commemorate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels.

Now a panel of judges will meet (24 September) to choose the winning designs from over 90 entries.

Transport Scotland Rail Director, Aidan Grisewood will lead the judging panel that comprises Abbotsford Director, Beverley Rutherford and Mark Parker, Director of Studies for Design for Textiles from the School of Textiles and Design.

Six student designs will be shortlisted and an overall winner will receive the honour and lasting legacy of having their commissioned work displayed on the Borders Railway for hundreds of people to see every day, once it opens next year.

Mark Parker said: “Our students have been working hard on this prestigious brief in their own time over the summer holidays. I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas they put forward as I know they’ll be of the highest standard.” The artwork will be unveiled at Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, at the celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the writer’s Waverley novels in October.