Kim Robertson and Claire Coles are both based at Cockpit Arts. They became fans of each other's work and decided to collaborate on Blossom and Butterfly wallpaper and furniture for 100% Design.
How does your partnership work?
Claire: We start off talking about the subject matter, what we think will work in 3D. Then Kim creates the graphics, silk-screen prints onto wallpaper, and I then do the stitching work.
Kim: I find the imagery. I take a lot of photos particularly inspired by nature. We really enjoy working together and we both feel that the fusion of our work creates something else that does not detract from our individual work.
Why wallpaper?
Claire: I studied applied arts, working in ceramics. I don't even know how I ended up in wallpaper! I wanted to make something new out of items that were old and unwanted. I have always enjoyed collecting things. I love junk shopping and collecting clutter. I get attached to tatty old things that need love like nasty £1 furniture.
Kim: I hate clutter! I studied textiles, but I moved away from fabrics into paper, creating collections of stationery.
What do you enjoy about your work?
Claire: I hate doing repetitive tasks and I don't like things looking the same. I machine-stitch bits of leather and suede and wallpapers freehand so I never get the same design. Working freehand gives the pieces energy.
Kim: I enjoy creating one-off pieces, I don't want to mass produce my work, the beauty is that it is hand-made.
