Homegirl London pays homage to Hannah Brown. Hannah makes beautiful and unique handmade decoration for the home. Her box frame art features curious visual stimulation like fishing flies, cowry shells and quail eggs. There’s a selection of pressed flowers, leaves and sea fans. Hannah also uses microscope slides to display a slice of history. These objects are captured in handmade bespoke frames to complete her quirky art. Her pieces resemble museum specimens encased in glass which draws you in for a closer look. I caught up with Hannah to find out more.
Sea Fans and Fishing Flies
Meet Hannah Brown
Hannah Brown studied printed textiles at Liverpool John Moore’s University and a post graduate at Central Saint Martins in computer Graphics. Her working career started off as a freelance graphic designer with a change to become a web designer. After having her second baby she returned to Central Saint Martins to take a course in interior design.
Hannah Brown
The business venture, Hannah Brown Interiors, started in October 2012. “After a career behind a computer I was keen to use my hands and get creative. This started with making decorative pieces for my home which led to friends commissioning me to make them something. I soon realised there was a demand and started selling at markets. This rapidly progressed to selling online although I still like to sell at markets and popup shops so I can maintain contact with the public.”
Pressed Flowers and Leaves
Hannah is based in Bristol and is lucky enough to work from home – “Living in a wonderful four story terraced house, there is plenty of room for studio space. I have a study where I do my website work. I do all my framing and making in the basement. In the summer I open the doors and my work continues outside.”
Sea Fans and Microscope Slides
This is a one woman business – “I do everything from the making the art to the web production. It’s a small business but it works well for me. The best thing about owning a business is being in total control – you do what you want when you want. Sometimes it’s full on but when it’s quiet and you’re on top of things you can enjoy life.”
View the Hannah Brown Collection
Hannah describes her style as – “A mixture of vintage and modern. The framed objects are often historic like the antique microscope slides. Each slide has its own interesting specimen and vintage label. These are encased in one of my handmade modern style frames to create a whole piece of art.”
Microscope Slides
The Botanical Range is all about unusual objects captured in Hannah’s unique handmade frames. This includes vintage fishing flies, black gorgonian sea fans, pressed leaves and pressed flowers from around the world. These look fantastic grouped together to create an original and interesting collection for either a wall or simply propped on shelves.
Fishing Flies
Sea Fan
Pressed Flowers
Pressed Leaves
Hannah tells me about her inspiration – “I loved nature as a child and share this with my two boys. Collecting specimens on our walks and looking at them under the microscope led to me seeking interesting ways to display these treasures.” Another inspiration is Joseph Beuys – “I love his raw use of found objects, the juxtaposition of objects and the relationships formed. I’m inspired by the almost museum collective nature of his installation works, projecting a history both intoxicating and visually powerful.”
Quails Eggs
Buy Hannah Brown Products
For more information about Hannah and to buy her pieces go to Hannah Brown Interiors. Price guide: decorative artwork ranges from £55 – £95. Hannah offers a bespoke service – any piece / frame can be made to any dimension.
Hannah also makes a range of cushions using high end fabrics by designers Maharam, Knoll textiles and 100% wool felt. The cushions retail at £45 – £55.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Hannah Brown Interiors. Thanks: Hannah Brown.
