Melissa White, decorative painter
Naomi Jones talks with Melissa White, a decorative painter based in Hastings who specialises in Elizabethan-inspired designs.
Describe your craft…
I paint historic and original patterns on walls, textiles and ‘fresco secco’ (dry plaster) panels; I focus on Elizabethan decoration, researching and reproducing (or even adapting and updating) the stunning designs that were once used in the domestic interiors of our ancestors.
How did you study this art form?
In 1996, after completing an art history degree at Birmingham University, I was apprenticed to (and still work with) David Cutmore, who is an expert in the field.
Were you creative as a child?
I’m half French and spent childhood summers in France, immersed in the nostalgia of my grandparents’ houses with their old-fashioned decoration; that gave me the urge to embellish, and I’m especially drawn to the worn and faded.
Why is Elizabethan decoration so appealing to you?
Unlike murals or trompe l’oeil, it’s all about pure pattern, spontaneity and imperfection. I love the little errors, the way a design follows the slope of a ceiling, the odd drip of paint – in essence, the signature of the artist; add to that the natural deterioration of time – cracks, wear and fading – for me it’s perfect and I’m in heaven.
What inspires your work?
I’m excited by the rarity of Elizabethan designs – some have not been seen for almost 500 years. During a restoration project, we take inspiration from partially surviving wall paintings or from museum archives and books. I always keep my mind open to the possibility of adapting scale and colour for a modern audience, on cushions or curtains, for example; there is real pleasure in breathing new life into forgotten patterns.
When you’re not working on site, where do you paint?
I recently moved into a large studio in Hastings to accommodate a huge wooden frame for painted cloth commissions. An off-site assignment David and I took on was for the bedroom of an Elizabethan castle in Norfolk. It’s a joy to become engrossed in a big project like that in your own space; the sun was shining, and the music of Thomas Tallis was playing, transporting my mind back to the 16th century.
Which commission are you most proud of?
Painted cloths for Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. We reproduced exquisite patterns on linen, which were then nailed to batons around the walls in four rooms. The bold and bright designs we used were a brave but accurate move away from the black beams and whitewashed walls people usually associate with a Tudor house.
How have you been able to advance your work?
Three years ago, I received an award of £5,000 from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (qest.org.uk), which enabled me to continue my research and development. The trust not only helps traditional skills to survive but also understands the importance of adapting them for the future.
What advice would you give others who want to be more creative?
It’s important to have the right environment to play, make a mess, and welcome serendipity.
Contact Melissa via fairlyteelizabethan.co.uk or fairlyte.co.uk (01424 868048).
FEATURE NAOMI JONES
Featured in the June 2010 issue of Period Living
