I’m a textiles alumna from the Glasgow School of Art and have worked in the interiors industry for many years, consulting with lots of interesting and influential brands and businesses in many countries, including Japan, Indonesia, the US & UK. My love of colour and pattern drives me on.
I’m thrilled to be the co-founder of anart.cuirm, a bold and expressive table linen company I founded in 2022 with my friend Nancy Rohde.
Rooted in the exploration of art, pattern, and colour, the collection includes an array of printed linen napkins, placemats, runners, tablecloths and tea towels — enlightening our customers to live with less formality and more flair.
How long have you lived in the area?
Since 2006, we moved from urban Islington to rural Dulwich and are now converted to South London life!
What brought you here?
More lateral living space and 1960s architecture, Dulwich Park & Woods. Great schools too…
What do you most value about the street you live in?
Tollgate Drive is lovely, leafy, and quiet. A perfect location to bring up 2 sporty boys, they’re grown up now!
Do you know your neighbours?
Yes! It’s very friendly without being overbearing. An interesting mix of young and old, with a lot of creatives and architects living in Tollgate Drive and Ferrings.
Do you belong to any groups?
Yes, The Tollgate Collective! This will be our 3rd year exhibiting and selling our wares at Dulwich Artists Open House. My husband, Angus & I love hosting this event every year.
Come and see Nancy and me showing our anart.cuirm table linens along with Bansheeplum’s pots, Gail Bryson’s prints, Sophie Roet’s vintage textiles, colourful jewellery from Blythe-b & sustainable fashion pieces from Woo Woo Boutique.
Describe your perfect weekend.
Hopping on the Eurostar to Paris to hit the shops and flea markets.
I usually stay at Hotel Les Deux Gares.
What is your favourite place to eat?
Ganapati in Holly Grove, Peckham, is wonderful! Highly recommended.
The best-kept secret…
The East Neuk in Fife, Scotland. The perfect antidote to London life.
What is your favourite shop?
Le Bon Marché Department store in Paris & Tokyu Hands in Tokyo.
What was the last thing you bought there?
My son Sid has just returned from a month in Japan, and he was dispatched to buy Epuronya oven gloves from Tokyu Hands! The best…
Best bargain you’ve ever landed.
I gave my husband, Angus, a pair of Luxus hunting chairs for his 40th birthday that I spotted in a small mid-century furniture shop in Camden Passage…that was over 20 years ago. I recently did a bit of research on them and was delighted to discover that they’re now quite valuable and very rare.
My perfect holiday…
I’m dreaming of a ski trip to Hokkaido in Japan. Skiing is the only sport I really love and though I’ve travelled and worked in Japan frequently over the years, I’ve never skied there…yet!
Come and see us at The Tollgate Collective, showing as part of Dulwich Artists Open House!
This article first appeared in the May issue of SE21.