Painted Calico With Sarah Campbell

Designer Sarah Campbell has spent a lifetime in pattern. She began working in fabric design as a teenager helping her my older sister, Susan Collier when she became was painting patterns for Liberty and Richard Allen Scarves in the early '60s. Together they founded the original design company, Collier Campbell and went on to work together for 50 years making designs for textiles, wallpapers and other surfaces and converting cloth. Since Susan's death in 2011, Sarah has built a company under her own name, painting new patterns and developing new areas of work. Sarah continues to design from her studio in Gipsy Hill, South London, producing a wide range of work including a collection of artisanal goods. Love of pattern, colour, and hand-painted designs are the hallmarks of her designs.

Sarah believes that textiles are designed to be used – Sarah and Susan always painted their patterns with an end-use in mind. Sarah enjoys hand-painting fabrics, scarves, hankies, papier-maché animals, and loves making things out of the designs. Her products are always bright, full of life and joy; colour is never in short supply. 

In June, Sarah will be giving a one-day workshop to explore and experiment with painting pattern directly onto cloth – calico or linen – using fabric inks and paints which can then be iron-fixed to remain colour and light-fast. The start of the day will be dedicated to encouraging participants to loosen up, making marks on paper, aiming to end up having enough fabric to make into an easy summer top, a cushion or a table-cloth, or a variety of pieces to sew or patch together or simply enjoy.

To find out more and to book your place, click here.