Behind the project: Botanical pattern design inspired by Kew

Earlier in the summer, I spent afternoon sketching at Kew Gardens. It’s one of my favourite places to go and draw in London to draw people and plants.

I did some drawings from location whilst I was there, creating a couple of concertina illustrations of people in the greenhouses. I used a mixture of brush pen and pencil, and was pleased with the bold shapes of the plants versus the more delicate characters. I decided to take this idea and run with it, and developed it into a repeat pattern.

Drawing plants and people in the greenhouse

There’s something really special about the process of drawing from life, really soaking up a place, and then turning that into something more complete like a repeat pattern.

I really like creating illustrated repeat patterns, as I can explore texture, shape, movement and line without being constrained by such a thought out composition.

Concertina sketch drawn from life

Full view of repeat pattern design

I’d love to see a wallpaper like this in the Kew Gardens cafe!