Elizabeth Ockford

from Wallpaper Direct Spring/Summer 2021

Prestigious

all want to be somewhere harmoniously pleasing, cosy and charming at the moment.

In The Garden, Eleanor is the design that encapsulates my garden the most. It shows Roses, Geraniums, and Californian poppies. They create a soft stripe, falling onto the outlines that I drew before I painted them. To create this, I picked the flowers and laid them out onto a sheet of a paper, then I painted by their side, catching as much as possible all their quirks and beautiful shapes. I allowed the watercolours to puddle and pool and mix fluidly with each other. It’s delightful that with modern digital printing, I can capture all that on the wallpaper.

The design is named after Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the US President during and after WW2. However, she was far more than simply a first lady- after his death she campaigned for civil rights and represented the US at the United Nations.

In fact, all the designs in The Garden have female names. This started with my admiration for Marianne North, a Victorian botanical artist who travelled the world, even going up the Amazon! The design Marianne features botanical style flowers, falling onto a ground that also show skeleton floral shapes. While I have created a traditional mixed colour floral on cream - the more contemporary colourings of the design are on Black, sky Blue and an Oyster Beige. From there I was spoilt for choice for pioneering women – for instance Lady Penrose is named after local Lee Miller, a famous War Photographer, while Cleo depicts a myriad of bugs and beetles and is named after Cleopatra!

What’s your advice for someone searching for design inspiration? Just keep your eyes open. Wherever you are, or whatever you are doing, you are always surrounded by inspiration. Whether that is speaking as Designer to Designer, or to a consumer looking for inspiration for their Interior style.

As a designer there are always many art galleries and exhibitions to choose from as well as magazines and social media. Occasionally if I feel a lack of inspiration, I’ll go take my dog, Rocket, for a walk down in the woods near the studio and seek inspiration from the natural world around us, and clear headspace. Be aware of what’s going on in the broader world of design around you as well. How are the graphics on adverts changing? Is there any particular styles coming through in TV and film? Look at the fashion trends for these as well – they follow through into interiors within a year or so. You need to be a big sponge, be receptive to the creative stimuli around you.

As for the consumer, these days there are so many good places to find top tips for your styling- start with Instagram or

“People believe you have to be brave to use wallpaper. I disagree”

Wallpaper: Marianne

Wallpaper: Eleanor

Pinterest. I think you’ll get lost in there, there is so much choice!

What is your design background? I studied Textile Design at Chelsea School of Art in the 1980s and then returned to school only 10 years or so ago to do a Masters in Fine Art Print.

My first job was with a fashion studio where I became the in-house expert at floral patterns, and then I was incredibly lucky to land a junior designer job at Osborne and Little. Over my 13 years there I learnt so much and worked with some amazingly talented designers. Once I left there I freelanced as a designer for many of the big names, whilst also selling my paintings and prints.

How would you explain your design process form initial idea to final product? All of the designs I produce start from a drawing, painting or an archival document – sometimes it can be the smallest scrap of paper that makes me burst with inspiration. Then I make a mood board of other inspirations, maybe colours or interiors, to see if there are ways to influence my designs to take them to the next level.

The original artwork is scanned into the computer and using CAD programmes I create finished designs that go into production. We also use a highly sophisticated programme to colour the designs. Using that we can colour a collection in a fraction of the time it used to take when each colouring had to be hand painted out.

What is a common misconception about wallpaper? People believe you have to be brave to use wallpaper. I disagree – it can transform a room, and now that it can be pasted straight on to the wall it’s a very quick and relatively mess free process.

Although the price of wallpaper may seem costly at first glance, it’s a lot less than a new pair of curtains or sofa – and within a couple of years it’s easy to take down, change it and once again create a totally different look.

I think people should play with wallpaper – put something up that is fun, inspiration or a talking point and change it after a while to feel the excitement of something new all over again.

Before we end, what is one thing that people should know about you? I could talk about colour and art all day and night. But if you want a lesser known answer… I’m in love with vegan Magnums.