• MAITLAND

    Collection Story

    The Maitland collection brings together historic decorative reference, folk traditions, and hand-painted mark-making. It is a quieter, more reflective collection, combining reworked designs from earlier portfolios with new patterns developed through drawing and painting in the studio. Across the collection, simplicity of layout is balanced with surface texture, allowing the hand-painted quality to remain visible and integral to the final design.

    A key reference is Quimper pottery (faïence de Quimper) from Brittany, France. Produced since the late 17th century and still made today, Quimper ceramics are known for their tin-glazed surfaces, expressive hand-painted decoration, and strong graphic patterning. Breton figures, flowers, maritime scenes, and traditional stripes informed both colour choices and the confidence of painted mark-making across the collection.

    Another important influence is Chamba Rumal embroidery from Himachal Pradesh. Often described as “paintings in embroidery,” these works combine narrative imagery with a flat, balanced pictorial style. Their clarity of composition and storytelling approach informed the way motifs are arranged and repeated.

    British folk traditions also underpin the collection. Inspiration was drawn from the Compton Verney British Folk Art collection, where objects appeared unexpectedly throughout the building, removed from their usual context. This re-framing of folk art encouraged a freer, less formal approach to motif and scale, allowing designs to feel playful without losing structure.

    The work of Enid Marx (1902–1998) was particularly influential. Her ability to create timeless, functional patterns for industrial use—while retaining a strong hand-drawn quality—reinforced my interest in creating designs that feel both enduring and quietly expressive. Her textile work for London Transport, alongside contemporaries such as Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, informed the balance of rhythm, restraint, and surface interest seen throughout the collection.

OSTRICH STRIPE

Design Story

Ostrich Stripe is a playful, hand-painted striped wallpaper featuring ostriches moving through painted grassland. The background stripes were painted with leaf-like textures to soften the linear structure. Ostriches were painted separately from photographic reference and later integrated into the design. One bird appears with its head in the ground, introducing humour and character. The design was hand painted before colourways were developed digitally in Photoshop. Earthy tones ground the design while allowing the motif to remain light-hearted.

BUTTERROW

Design Story

Butterrow is an organic, hand-painted design inspired by walks through the Cotswolds surrounding the studio. Seed heads, leaves, and root forms intertwine in a loose, flowing repeat. The design has no direct historical reference, instead relying on observation and instinctive mark-making. A subtle shadow was painted beneath elements to introduce a gentle sense of depth. The repeat was painted by hand using watered-down gouache, creating a soft, textured surface that allows the design to feel alive on the wall.

FLORAL CHECK

Design Story

At first glance, Floral Check appears traditional, but a modern checked structure underpins the design. The background grid updates the floral motifs and introduces quiet tension between structure and softness. Floral elements were adapted from Briggs & Co embroidery transfer books, whose clarity of scale and repeat informed the layout. Painted in matt emulsion, the wallpaper has a flat, chalky surface. The repeat was carefully adjusted by hand to ensure an even, flowing rhythm across the wall.

SOWERBY

Design Story

Sowerby is an ogee-based design formed from coral-like shapes containing shells and imagined motifs. Vertical lines help anchor the pattern and give it structure. Shading was painted into areas of the design to introduce texture and depth without overwhelming the surface. Botanical shell paintings informed the internal motifs, while historic pattern references from the V&A archives guided the ogee form. The entire design was painted by hand, resulting in a softly textured, decorative wallpaper.

CABBAGE CHECK

Design Story

Cabbage Check was designed to feel timeless rather than trend-led. The process began by drawing a grid and exploring how leaf forms could sit within it while still flowing organically. The design started in pencil and was then painted over by hand. The leaf shapes were reworked repeatedly until the balance felt right. The name comes from the subtle resemblance of the leaves to cabbage forms. The result is a structured yet gentle check with movement and softness.

FROND OGEE

Design Story

Frond Ogee developed from an idea that had lived in sketchbooks for several years before being fully resolved. The design began as a pencil drawing, which was then enlarged and painted in matt emulsion to create a flat, chalky surface. The ogee form echoes the shape of oak and fern leaves. Subtle brush marks remain visible within the design, reinforcing its hand-painted origin. Available as both wallpaper and fabric, it is a quiet, versatile pattern that can sit comfortably alongside more decorative designs.

OCTOPODA GRAND

Design Story

Octopoda Grand is a larger-scale version of the original Octopoda design, developed due to its popularity. The increased scale allows the hand-drawn line work to be more expressive and impactful. The eight-limbed creature creates a bold, unapologetic statement on the wall. The design was hand drawn with fine line work and meticulously repeated. Additional colourways were introduced to give greater flexibility within the collection.

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