A young Edmonton artist has won the Award of Achievement from the Alberta Craft Council for her work involving steel and ceramics.

Stephanie Jonsson says her work generates plenty of ideas from the young students she teaches. (Submitted by Stephanie Jonsson)"That was a huge surprise for me," said Stephanie Jonsson, 26. "I'm not formally trained in ceramics … there's people on that list with really great credentials, so I was like 'oh, I won't get it,' but it's a great honour."

Jonsson is lead artist, instructor and educator at Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts in Edmonton. She's also a gallery educator at the Art Gallery of Alberta, where she says her youngest students inspire her.

"When I teach children they have a really free approach to art," Jonsson said.

"I've taken kids to see my work before, and when they look at it they have a lot of feedback, and they generate so many ideas."

She credits a job in a pottery shop with broadening her artistic horizons and helping her win the Craft Council award.

"After I graduated from the University of Alberta, I started working in mediums that I wasn't formally trained in," she said, "and it really took my work to another level."

Jonsson's work will be featured in an exhibit at the Alberta Craft Council in January.