Who I am and what I do

I live and work on the South Coast of England in a studio with a sea view. I am an artist who at the moment designs wallpapers. I trained in general art foundation, then on to a course in surface and textile design. Later, a masters in mixed media within textiles.

I came to photography on my own – traditional black and white – manual camera. No one taught it to me and I’m not sure that I’m good at it but I take so many pictures that some of them turn out to be just what I’m looking to achieve. I see wallpaper as a stage in my concept. I’ve sort of been captured by it.

How I work

I combine photography digital and silkscreen printing. I admire wallpaper designs but don’t consciously emulate. I always tried to be different and not do what everyone else does and to make a statement with my work, but it’s hard to be original. There are two aspects to what I do: the work to commission, and the collections - which are always hand-printed in small batches in the Northern factory.

I’m still finding out what I’m all about. I try to follow the intention everyday to see what’s in my head and to set the space to do that. To enjoy being creative: balancing life and creativity and work.

What inspires me

Inspiration comes from everyday objects. I collect things and often do not know why. My work is like a  jigsaw puzzle - slowly things drop into place. I’ve been at the sea now for about a year and it certainly has influenced the way I feel – it feels great - and is source of inspiration. I like getting out for long walks in the salt breeze. Here at the sea I feel at home and productive.

My design philosophy

„Good design“  feels right, looks good, and serves its purpose. I prefer not to label what I do. I enjoy combining craft and new technology: they feed each other and there is no avoiding either. Is wallpaper art and is what I do creating a work of art...?  People can call it what they like, but I always wanted to make my art functional, useful, and practical. What it becomes is affected by the place where it is going to be and I like it when my work has an effect on the environment where it is used.

My stylistic influences

My influences are subconcious, from deep and far. I enjoy the surreal. Influences also come from what is at hand – who the commission is from, from the space where the work will finally be. Other surfaces entice me too. I would like to not only fulfill a function for the periphery of the room, but to also get into the room, to adorn objects in the room with images. That’s what inspired me to add real objects to the wallpaper, to mix 2D and real objects.

My future goals and ambitions

To make a book: I like to communicate with images and that is what my book would be about. Graphic as opposed to typographic, with collages and illustrations and pictures... there are lot of people who can write, but I am one of the people who can show you things.

My likes and dislikes

Professionally I like good quality and things that are designed to last. I dislike the way things get over-designed and designed for design’s sake.