Talent spotting: the ones to watch in 2010

This year's ones to watch...

Artist
Polly Morgan nominates Boo Saville, 29
Her beautiful pictures of corpses are intriguing as they aren't always obviously contemporary, until you get up close and realise that she's worked in Biro or bleach. I like the irreverence in her choice of tools - there's not much point in being precious about death when it treats us all so damned brutally. She already has shows lined up for 2010 in London (Trolley Gallery, February) and Milan (Studio Visconti) so I don't think she needs me to tell her she's going to go far.

Polly Morgan is a taxidermist and artist

Musician
Paul Rees nominates Ellie Goulding, 23
Born in Hereford, now based in London, this former drama student has already caused a stir with a handful of fine gigs and a low-key single release, 'Under the Sheets'. Her songs have a folksy feel coupled with a dash of soothing electronica, but essentially they stand out simply because they're great songs -especially 'Wish I Stayed', an impassioned, euphoric rush of sound that could stop traffic. Her debut album will arrive in March. She and it will go far.

Paul Rees is editor of Q magazine

Chef
Michel Roux Jr nominates Steve Groves, 28
The winner of MasterChef: the Professionals is most definitely one to watch out for in the New Year.

The junior sous-chef at Launceston Place is both accomplished and creative in the kitchen and, during the competition, demonstrated that not only does he have a great knowledge of classical cooking but also what it takes to master modern techniques. I'm sure his profile will be on the up in 2010.

Michel Roux Jr is chef patron at Le Gavroche

Accessories designer
Katie Hillier nominates Kat Maconie, 25
After working as a stylist and a buyer for labels including Whistles, Kat decided to launch her own shoe range last summer. Within weeks her designs had sold out. She is self-taught and ambitious: first she got inside the fashion industry and then took a course in Footwear Design at the London College of Fashion. Now she is stocked everywhere from Scotland to Singapore. I admire her entrepreneurial skills. She has the talent to go a long way.

Katie Hillier is Accessories Designer of the Year 2009

Dancer
Arlene Phillips nominates Eric Underwood, 30
Currently principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, Eric is beautiful and strong, with a brilliant technique and a passion that starts in his feet and moves through to his extraordinary extension. Although his training is classical, he captivated me in Wayne McGregor's Chroma, a short piece for five couples in flesh-coloured underwear set to music by the White Stripes, with his ability to develop and challenge the boundaries of classical dance and to push forward to make movement his own with exquisite precision. His musicality and expression make him a true storyteller in dance and a unique dancer for our time.

Arlene Phillips is a director at Sadler's Wells Theatre

Fashion Designer
Sarah Mower nominates Altor Throup, 29
A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Throup is to menswear what his contemporary Christopher Kane is to womenswear, but with the technical-modernist brain to make him a Jonathan Ive of his generation. In 2010, he will achieve the rare distinction of becoming a designer football fans recognise - and whose clothes thousands of normal blokes will buy - while also confirming his rising cult status among menswear critics in the full glare of the Paris spotlight.

Throup, who has been at Umbro for two years, has been trusted to redesign the England away strip, merging tailoring with scientific ergonomic principles. The launch of his own collection - a retrospective of all the trousers he's designed - will be a must-see debut during Paris menswear week in January.

He has also been nominated for a prize at the Design Museum's Brit Insurance Design of the Year award, for his ingenious reworkings of the CP Company's cult Goggle Jacket. Throup, born in Argentina, was brought up in Burnley and lives in London. He is one of a kind.

Sarah Mower is a contributing editor to American Vogue and Style.com and an ambassador for the British Fashion Council