A BUSINESSWOMAN has been making a splash in Colchester's Fenwick department store, thanks to her unique nautical art business.

Sam Luxford, of NaviStitch, is trading as a pop-up shop in Fenwick with her maritime and coastal-themed artwork and greetings cards, after winning a competition.

Sam was the overall winner of In the Market for Success, run by Fenwick and the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea), to offer aspiring female entrepreneurs to trade in Colchester’s largest department store.

Sam was picked from a group of 100 eligible aspiring female entrepreneurs, where the finalists had to make a Dragon’s Den style presentation, and the judges were unanimous in selecting Sam as the winner.

NaviStitch is a unique concept, devised by Sam, of hand-stitching original designs on old navigation charts to create distinctive works of art.

Sam produces and receives commissions for original artwork that can be personalised with locations and designs that are special to the owner.

Sam has also developed her concept to release a range of NaviStitch greetings cards.

She said: “This springboard has already made such a difference to my business and is already helping me to take my business to the next level.”

Colbea has since won funding to run In the Market for Success 2 and support a further 100 aspiring businesswomen.

IM4S 2 started in early 2019 and is due to run for 18 months.

Places available on the Colbea website.