A SOUTHAMPTON student has scooped the top prize in an interior design competition.

Nick Snow was crowned Valspar Young Interior Designer of the Year 2015 after going head-to-head with students and graduates from across the UK.

The Southampton Solent University interior design student achieved the top prize after impressing judges with his creative approach to colour and his use of space and light to create a liveable and inspirational home design.

He was awarded £5,000 to help boost his career and the chance to recreate his winning design in a residential home.

The competition aims to recognise the top interior designers of the future.

It was judged by a panel that included fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, Lindsey Randell from the British Institute of Interior Design, stylist Marian Cotterill and design blogger and author Will Taylor.

Nicholas, who worked in the complaints department at a bank before starting university, said: “When Zandra Rhodes announced that I was the winner, I couldn’t believe it at first and was in a state of shock.

“I never dreamed that four years ago, sitting behind a desk dealing with complaints, I would eventually see that the hard work and sacrifice of following my passion for interior design really would pay off.

“I am extremely grateful to Valspar for allowing me this opportunity and I’m very excited about my future within interior design.”

Zandra Rhodes added: “It’s fantastic to see such inspiring entries from the next generation of interior designers that celebrate colour.

“The designs we saw can really show the public how to utilise colour and bring it into their lives.”

As previously reported, the 23-year-old from Hedge End was picked for the show Your Home in Their Hands.

BBC producers spotted him after he had posted on the social networking site Twitter.

They got in touch and after a number of meetings and interviews he began filming for the show, the results of which air tonight.

Nick, who graduated from Southampton Solent University with a first, said the whole experience was a great platform to start a budding career.

The former Barton Peveril student decided to make the career change and enrol at Southampton Solent University after quitting his job at a bank complaints department.

“I woke up one day and thought ‘I just don’t want to do this any more, it’s making me miserable’,” he said.

“I have always loved design; as a kid it was my twin sister who was out playing football and I was inside watching 60-Minute Makeover.

“It was the support of my partner and my family that have made it possible.”

Alongside his course Nick also works part-time at the Marks and Spencer’s home section in Southampton’s WestQuay.

He now hopes to start a career in interior design.