The future looks bright for an Ilkley firm which specialises in relics of the past.

Redman Design, which helps museums with exhibitions, has seen a 65 per cent rise in turnover over the last 12 months - thanks largely to the rise in projects funded by the National Lottery.

John Redman and his wife Laury set up the business 12 years ago. It now has ten employees and three partners - the Redmans and their son Bryn - producing the designs for museum refits.

Mr Redman said: "We have grown steadily over the last decade, but have had a big jump recently. Next year also looks like being a good one for us."

Redman Design beat competition from the US and Canada to win a design contract for the £4.5 million fit-out of 20 galleries at Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow.

The museum is set to re-open after a £25 million refurbishment in 2006. Another current project the firm is involved in is at the Museum of the Tyne, in Newcastle.

The firm is helping the museum with a major project which will explore the impact the river has had on the development and life of the city.

Redman completed £2.5 million of work at the Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery, rebuilding its winter garden which was destroyed by wartime bombs, and refurbishing a Victorian park.

Mr Redman explained: "The site always attracted a lot of visitors and after the refurbishment and redesign work visitor numbers went up even more.

"It has had almost a million visits in its first year, and far exceeded expectations. The Heritage Lottery Fund described it as a showcase for projects of its kind."

The firm was also involved in the new museum and visitor centre on the site of a former Roman fort at Wallsend, North Tyneside.

The fort, on the site of the old the Swan Hunter shipyard, was excavated and many of the artefacts discovered are now housed in the museum.

Mr Redman added: "Plenty of work remains to be done in improving Britain's museums.

"There are still hundreds of museums with leaking roofs and poor storage and other facilities. We are only scratching the surface. If money can continue to be found there will be work for many years."

The firm also looks set to expand into other areas of design work.

"We think the health industry could benefit a lot from our expertise, particularly children's hospitals.

"We understand how to use design to create a specific response in people," Mr Redman explained.

The firm is also looking to expand abroad. He said help from Bradford-based accountancy practice MGI Watson Buckle had helped the firm's growth. He added: "They have always given us excellent service, and we have complete confidence in them."