Meet The Designers - Tattersfield Designs

It’s time again to meet another one of our fabulous designers. This week, we’re talking to Jane Tattersfield from Tattersfield Designs. Her designs are some of Scribbler’s brightest, boldest and newest cards and they’re absolutely gorgeous!

Hi Jane, thank you for making the time for us. I want to start off by saying, I absolutely love the new range! Tell us a little bit about yourself, do you have a background in design?

I did my degree in illustration at Kingston University and began my career with commissions from publishers, magazines, graphic design and greetings card companies. I then went on to specialise in children's picture books and television work. My commissions were from a wide range of companies including Channel 4, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, BBC Worldwide, Harper Collins and Conde Nast, I set up Tattersfield Designs in 2014 selling a range of products that I could design and produce myself.

Wow! That sounds like quite an extensive portfolio! You use lots of different textures, what inspires you to create these designs?

My images are mainly birds, flowers and animals on a patterned background. I’m inspired by India, South America, textile, folk and ancient art. The subject matter usually determines the different textures - such as a leopard’s fur or a puffin’s beak. I love pattern making and my inspiration can come together from many avenues such as an embroidered ribbon bought in a charity shop or a visit to a Moorish palace in Spain.

You really show off our vibrant and colourful the world can be with your inspirations, it’s mesmerizing. What’s your favourite material to work with?

I love oil paints as you can create the richest, brightest and most intense colours. I use the same range as David Hockney as the pigments have incredible vibrancy and depth.

You seem very well travelled, but do you have any creative/art scenes in your local area?

I’m a Londoner and now live just outside. I work at home now but in the past shared studio space with many artists who are still my friends, so that’s my art scene.

What are your favourite artist/illustrators that inspire you to keep creating?

I’m inspired by so many artists of every variety from painters to fashion designers. I love Van Gogh, Matisse, Hockney, Botticelli, El Anatsui, Chris Ofili, Dolce and Gabbana, Etro, Kaffe Fassett, Zandra Rhodes amongst many others.

Based on what you’ve learned so far with creating your own card, what advice would you share with others?

You must be extremely passionate about what you're doing. Your heart has to be in it as you have to be very on the ball and push yourself to come up with new ideas all the time. The design side is just a small part of it - there’s lots of mundane day to day stuff too! And don’t grow your business too fast - mistakes cost money.

We’ve got a few quick-fire questions lined up:

What is your favourite animal/tv show/ film?

I love birds and the more I draw and paint them the more I learn about different breeds, their beautiful, subtle shapes, colours and feathers. I’m developing some new ideas based on Birds of Paradise.

I like the The Great British Sewing Bee, The Pottery Thrown Down, Glow Up, anything about music and art – all the creative shows I guess.

Old musicals like ‘Singing in the Rain’ and ‘West Side Story’. I like a bit of Scorsese and that type of thing, ’American Hustle’ is one of my favourite recent films in that genre. I also like a good foreign film with subtitles and stories about relationships and emotions - I’m not into Sci-fi or superheroes!

What’s your favourite creative medium?

Painting.

Favourite type of music?

I like strong female singers that I can sing along with whilst I’m working like Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell and Erykah Badu. A new singer I really love is Yola.

What’s your favourite card from your Scribbler range?

My ‘Leopard’ - it’s been very popular and I sold the original oil painting straight away, which is always a bonus!

Thank you so much for talking to me today Jane, your designs really mirror your passion for culture and nature and we love it.

You can take a look at Tattersfield Designs’ brilliant card range right here.