To find out more, we spoke to Millie herself:

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.

As an interdisciplinary artist, my work spans across a range of materials and references. I am always drawn to the study of people and characters, which is definitely related to the fact I’m a dancer, and have a fascination with the body and its ability to express and communicate.

Another fun fact about me, which feels integral to my artistic identity, is that I am a triplet. This experience has led to me being around groups of people for most of my life and I begin creating characters amalgamated from the different people I’ve met. Every project starts with a drawing, and from there I develop a concept and storyline. My work and characters explore identity through relatable elements with a hint of humour.

"For me it is better to make a lot of paintings and be spontaneous while working, than to play safe "

‘If the Shoe Fits’ is a commentary on materialism, over-indulgence and the influence of brands on society - what drove you to create this piece?

I have always taken an interest in visual stereotypes and the reasons people mass migrate towards certain trends and brands. But when I moved from London (leaving my lefty liberal family, which of course is a big stereotype in itself) to go to university, I began to notice a few prominent styles of people and these are what I formed my three characters on. At the time, I was getting increasingly frustrated by people’s obsession with branding and consumerism, as every day I was becoming more informed and concerned about the environment and the awful toll human consumerism was having on it.

I wanted my project to demonstrate how we all can relate to these characters, including their less desirable traits (written on the figures), and the way we use familiar brands and consumerism to conceal our imperfections. This in turn conceals our vulnerability. I’ve playfully added humorous elements to the piece too, with the odd proportions and focus on genitalia.

Brits as a collective are known to be uncomfortable around nudity, and good at pretending their physical imperfections don’t exist. While amusing, the focus on nudity here also symbolises the guilt linked between being our true selves, as people use familiar brands to literally cover themselves - concealing the unwanted aspects of their identity.

Have you got any ideas about what you’ll use your prize money for?

Yes. My main idea is to look into getting my own kiln which would save me a lot of time, energy and money instead of travelling to a rental kiln. Then with the remaining money, I’d like to see what options there are in London for either a doll making class or a puppet making course to develop my characters and get better at making 3D textile pieces, or even using wood. I’d love to make more mobile characters and have the ability to animate them.