HE'S a man in a traditionally woman's world, but creative studies student Mark Rhodes is weaving his way to success.

Mark's forte is embroidery, and he could be one of just a handful of people in the country to win a City and Guilds Medal of Excellence.

If so, he would follow in the steps of fellow Arts and Crafts centre student Martine Collister, who won the medal earlier this year.

Another student, Wendy Heywood, earned a Highly Commended certificate in the fashion category.

Mark (48) of Bealey Drive, Bury, is halfway through a four-year City and Guilds course, but his work has already been nominated by C&G assessors.

He gained a diploma in art and design in fine-art textiles (woven) from Loughborough in 1974, later working in theatre design, carpet design and teaching. But a back injury forced him to give up work four years ago. "My tutor, Val Maden, inspired me to do this, and I've got around 200 pieces made by now," he said.

"I find it very therapeutic as well. There are periods even now when I cannot get about easily, and you can feel stifled if you are stuck indoors."

Art galleries are now showing an interested in exhibiting his work, and Mark is assembling a photographic portfolio which he can send out to galleries and prospective buyers as some of his work is simply too large to take around on spec.

He says it's merely the word embroidery that makes people think it's a female preserve.

"It's not all pretty stitch patterns," he said. "Creative textiles is more like it. You're doing what a fine artist would do with paint or sculpture, but using fabric and yarns to do the same thing."

Val Maden, course tutor, described Mark as an outstanding student.

"He sets himself extremely high standards and his assessment pieces are very large scale and based on personal concepts relating to life experience," she said.

"He has applied himself to researching and learning embroidery techniques, dyeing, felting and papermaking and then linking these with his previous skill of weave and fine art, producing highly innovative work.

"Both his art and embroidery is presented beautifully and earlier this year, he staged a stunning exhibition for the assessment and public exhibition part of his course. We are extremely thrilled that the high quality of his work has now been recognised with this nomination and we are all keeping our fingers crossed."