The work from a Folkestone print designer has been featured in a national retail chain’s summer collection for women.

Zoë Pope, 23, of the Creative Quarter in Tontine Street, said she was shocked when flicking through Look magazine to find her tribal pattern, which she had painted 10 months ago, had made it into Marks & Spencer’s stores.

It has been featured on a beach kaftan, two styles of swimming costume and on trousers.

The former Folkestone School for Girls pupil is a full-time freelance print designer for Harika, a Lyminge-based company.

She said her prints are sold off to different places, and she never knows where she may next see one of her creations.

Last September one of her designs was sold to New York department store Macy’s.

She said: “I had no idea, I was just flicking through the magazine when I saw on one of the pages they had used it as their summer ad campaign.

“I was literally ecstatic, I couldn’t actually believe it is in real magazines and real shops. My family are over the moon.”

The clothing range can be found in the M&S Canterbury store and online.

“For me, M&S is the first thing in a shop on a garment,” she said.

'You never realise when going around the shops that someone could be at home designing those patterns' - Miss Pope

“You never realise when going around the shops that someone could be at home designing those patterns.”

Miss Pope said her job is like a lifestyle and she is constantly looking at ways to think up new patterns or prints.

She did a foundation course at the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury before doing a three-year degree at Winchester School of Art, part of the University of Southampton.

“I never know how my work is going to end up. I never knew that a little tribal painting would be going to Marks & Spencer’s as trousers or a swim suit.

“They could have done anything with it, it is quite an exciting process.”

Miss Pope said she is tempted to don her own print by buying the trousers.

She said: “I can’t wait to see more stuff in the shops.”