Homegirl London pays homage to Louise Wilkinson. Designer-maker of decorative fine bone china and illustrated art works. Her style is timeless with attention to detail featuring hand-drawn animals and the natural world. Louise pays homage to the traditional blue willow pattern which she brings bang up to date with her take on this classic design. Louise Wilkinson adorns cups and saucers, mugs, serving plates, dinner plates, side plates, teapots, jugs and trays with her beautiful illustrations. I caught up with Louise to find out more.
Fine Bone China Table Ware
Meet Louise Wilkinson
Louise studied Illustration at University – “It was great to learn about the different aspects of image making. I’d always wanted to study illustration because I loved drawing as a child. I remember looking at old encyclopaedias and children’s book illustrations that my grandparents had. I enjoyed studying the small details and fun characters in the pictures.”
Louise Wilkinson
After graduating Louise worked as an illustrator designing the prints, patterns and characters for children’s clothes, drawing everything by hand. She then moved to London and worked in the fashion industry as a print and textiles designer, whilst also working on freelance book and magazine illustrations.
Launching her own collection is something Louise always wanted – “I’ve been an illustrator, print and pattern designer in the fashion industry for over a decade. I’d always wanted to create my own art works and wanted to have a little more creative freedom and work for myself. I launched my first collection in Liberty after attending the Best of British open day and it went from there.”
Product Selection
Her base is now in South East London, Crystal Palace – “It has a lovely feel with a creative community. I grew up in Yorkshire and moved to London over ten years ago now. I like the balance of being able to see exhibitions in London when I want and then visiting my family in the countryside.”
Recognition for Louise’s work has come from the V&A. They invited Louise to showcase her work in a solo exhibition titled ‘Beneath the Willow Tree’ which celebrated the ‘Blue Willow’ pattern and the V&A’s Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings. Louise created ten large scale art works, some of which were displayed in the grand shop windows at the entrance of the V&A.
V&A Collaboration
Louise Wilkinson Collection
Louise describes her work as – “Decorative, playful and beautiful. Timeless designs with attention to detail. I like creating intricate, witty and whimsical artworks, often with a narrative.”
Fine Bone China Plates
Her inspirations are varied – “My work is often influenced by my love of the traditional decorative arts, nature and exotic dreamlike places. I love art and illustration from Japanese and Chinese paintings, Matisse, Henri Rousseau and George Lepape. Animals and the funny things they do also inspire my creativity.”
Fine Bone China Cups and Saucers
The collection is illustrated fine bone china which is hand decorated in Stoke on Trent. Louise tells me that the designs are inspired – “By the narratives of the Blue Willow pattern, Japanese prints and Chinese paintings, with a whimsical mix of history and modern.”
Fine Bone China Plates
Fine Bone China Cups, Saucers and Jugs
Buy Louise Wilkinson Products
To find out more about Louise and buy the products go to www.louisewilkinson.co.uk. Price guide: cups and saucers £19.50, mugs £11.50, serving plates £40, dinner plates £19.50, side plates £14.50 and teapots £42.50.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Louise Wilkinson. Thanks: Louise Wilkinson.
