A BUSINESS based in Sticklepath has been nominated for a top South West media and innovation award for work it completed a long way from home.

Image Makers — an interpretation strategy, consulting and design business working in the heritage, cultural and tourism sectors — has been nominated in the international trade category of the 2011 Media and Innovation Awards.

The awards celebrate the very best work produced in the creative and media industries in the South West.

Image Makers have been nominated for their project on an Archeology Discovery Centre in the Daming Palace Heritage Park in the Xian region of China, which the judges recognised for its successful development of international markets and collaboration.

The £4.2-million centre features state of the art touchable technology, and a sequence of interactive galleries tells the story of archaeology and its importance in modern China.

The centre saw 300,000 visitors on its first day.

Liz Nelstrop from Imagemakers said the project was an exciting venture.

'The Chinese are just starting to really discover a true interest in their heritage, and it is so exciting to be involved at the start of this new era.

'It was an incredible opportunity for us as a company, and obviously being nominated for an award for the project really is the icing on the cake.'

Team members from Image Makers spent five months in Xian, and last week signed a deal to open a new office in China. The company hopes to start recruiting both in China and the UK in the next few months.

The winners of the 2011 Media and innovation Awards will be announced at a gala dinner at the Holiday Inn, Plymouth on Thursday June 9.

Image Makers have already achieved a great deal, as entrants to this year's competition faced an even tougher challenge than in previous years after submissions rose by 30 per cent.