A new project has been launched to celebrate the life of a famous nineteenth century designer.

The Harmony Project is Shared Heritage’s new design and textile project based on the work of former Sutton and Richmond resident Christopher Dresser.

Shared Heritage is an arts organisation based in south London and is one of the first groups in the UK to receive a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Sharing Heritage grant totalling more than £23,000.

Is has also secured £19,820 from the Grants for Arts Programme from the Arts Council England.

Over the course of 2013-4 Shared Heritage will be working across six south London boroughs: Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Kingston, Richmond and Croydon with nine community centres and groups including young carers, the elderly, refugee and disability groups.

The focus of the project will remain strongly rooted in the period in which Christopher Dresser was active and working alongside the Victoria & Albert Museum bringing to life this unique individual and the period in which he was working.

Iqbal Husain, director of Shared Heritage, said: "It’s great that we have been awarded this grant and we can’t wait to get started.

"Christopher Dresser is such an inspiring 19c designer and we are really looking forward to bringing his work to life with local communities in south London through heritage and creative activities and a unique partnership with the V&A so that Christopher Dresser is more widely recognised and appreciated for his contribution."