Lady Gaga designer to create Blackpool Illuminations installation

A designer whose outfits have been worn by Lady Gaga will create a new deep sea-themed installation for Blackpool Illuminations after winning a contest.

Blackpool's Jack Irving has been awarded £100,000 to create his design, after artists were asked to bring a "new dimension" to the famous show.

The artist, who created three pieces for the singer, will create his vision with Lancaster University scientists.

The 26-year-old said making a new illumination was a "dream come true".

The competition, judged by a panel led by designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, invited participants to bring a "new dimension" of both design and technology to the show.

Llewelyn-Bowen said there had been some "extraordinarily exciting entries", but Irving's was the best.

The artist, who takes inspiration from his hometown's bright lights, said the as-yet-unrevealed piece was inspired particularly by the "glamour of Blackpool", sea organisms and the BBC TV series Blue Planet.

"As a child, I would always point at the Blackpool Tower lights and say to my parents, 'one day, I'll design those'," he said.

"It has been a total dream come true.

"I'm going to be able to give something back to what inspired my designs in the first place."

Irving said his most famous creation, a shimmering sea urchin-inspired piece which Lady Gaga wore in 2014, began life as a sketch he made as a teenager while working at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

He said the Poker Face and Bad Romance singer was his "muse", adding: "To have her wear my pieces was so surreal."

The installation will be on display as part of the Illuminations from 4 September to 8 November.