The very first fabric I ever bought was from Celia Birtwell, I vaguely appreciated it was Celia I had the long chat with β as I mooned over fabled creatures, princesses, stars and stripes whilst upending the entire basket of remnants.
She creates prints which feel nostalgic and warm the soul. Her latest prints include Birdsong, Gloriana and Bric a Brac - Inspired by a piece of 18th century needlework vigorously re-awakened. Many have a complicated genus: reflecting her broad knowedge of and and passion for the decorative arts.
This layering within the design process is what produces a unique final product. Designer Philip Prowse observes that designers usually reference one inspirational source, to aid the customer. This is what makes Celia stand out, Manolo Blahnik describes her as the best print designer of her generation. This partly explains her extra-ordinary friendship with David Hockney, she is often cast as his muse.
I was fascinated to read that Hockney painted them virtually life-size, to give them a real presence, and challenged himself by making the light source central to the painting. Hockney explains he was looking to do a series of modern van Eyck or Hogarth type paintings of couples he knew, and that in the Clark house: Celia was the one always up on her feet.
Hockney had moved past gender stereo-typing to looking firmly into the individuals themselves. Hockney brought Celia to California for several years after Osssie imploded and shared his life. Celia is clearly an enchanting woman, she is gloriously soft and sexy below gotta love a girl on a swing β right?
