retro pattern Archives -

I love weddings but I find wedding presents really difficult to choose. Buying something from a wedding list at a department store can seem way too impersonal but then again buying something not on the list could be disastrous.

This portrait of Notley Abbey near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, with a mosaic paper sky is my latest gilhoolie wedding venue commission. It’s handmade, unique, original and (will be) personalised with a message to the bride and groom. You can order them from my Etsy shop or get in touch with me for details…

Notley Abbey wedding portrait — Notley Abbey

Notley Abbey, by the way, was purchased by Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in 1945 and then restored and decorated with the help of decorators Sybil Colfax and John Fowler. I for one would love to go back to that era and see this amazing building and grounds, it looks so romantic…

Vivien and Larry — Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier

I’m ALWAYS looking at houses; windows, chimneys, brickwork, pretty details, I just can’t help myself. So when I visited a friend this week I left feeling I had to go straight home and draw their beautiful home. This is the third one I’ve completed (see my earlier post ‘Our house in ink and collage’) and it’s another thing I absolutely love doing.

I wanted to experiment with the sky this time, so instead of making a collage of bits of blue paper from magazines I used one of my gilhoolie patterns. It has a bit of a retro feel, which I love, and contrasts with the Victorian house. I just hope my friend likes it too!

If you would like me to draw your house just leave a comment on here and I can send you the details. Great for a Christmas present with a personal message added at the bottom!

House drawing with gilhoolie pattern sky

Tag: retro pattern

Everyone loves a wedding… gift!

Another house portrait…