CONVEYING EMOTION THROUGH DESIGN
After relocating from the UK to New York City in 2004, I studied painting and drawing at the Art Student’s League of New York from 2006-7, although I have been painting since childhood. This resulted in a studio residency with social-realist painter, Robert Cenedella, which continued successfully for a decade.
It was during the Covid 19 lockdown that I started to explore ways of transforming my oil and watercolour realism into pattern design, and satisfy a desire to merge aesthetic beauty with everyday utility. I draw inspiration from the belief that our visual surroundings deeply impact our well-being, and in this way, I hope my art balances realism with stylisation, and results in pattern designs that are both elegant and whimsical while conveying a sense of balance, harmony and movement.
Each collection begins with a story, or a re-telling of my emotional response to my surroundings, in the pursuit of describing this visually, and forging a connection with the viewer.
I have been lucky to have lived in places as diverse as London, Paris, Edinburgh, New York City and Florida, and currently live and work (with my two little dogs in tow!) between Florida’s Gulf coast and the beautiful English countryside.
Thank you for landing here and I hope you enjoy what you see,
Deborah