Raymond Honeyman: Textile designer

Naomi Jones meets Raymond Honeyman to discuss how he creates his beautiful textile designs.

Did you always want a career in painting?
As a boy, pencils, paints and paper were my favourite birthday and Christmas presents, so I was in my element at art college in Dundee. I thought that I’d eventually specialise in drawing and painting, but printed textile design was more appealing. Creating pattern fascinates me, choosing colours excites me, and I adore the whole process, so all of my designs are produced as pieces of art.

Tell us about the work you do now.
I’ve been one of the main designers for Ehrman Tapestry for 13 years, painting every stitch – each design consists of approximately 50,000 stitches and takes me several weeks to paint; it’s intimate and tranquil work.

What other companies have you designed for?
My first design after college (called Snowdrops) was bought by Liberty. I then worked for three years at Viyella in its studio for fashion fabrics. And over the years, as a freelance designer, fabric companies all over the world have purchased my work. I’ve also designed greetings cards and wrapping paper.

Where do you find inspiration for your patterns?
I’m a collector of old objects such as vases, fans, fragments of beautiful textiles and everyday printed items. I particularly like old Kashmir and Paisley shawls, and find the elegance and intricacy of the patterns exhilarating.

Which piece are you most proud of?
My favourite one for Ehrman Tapestry is Daisy Fan; I love the decorative effect of the different coloured daisies opening out into a resplendent fan shape.

ABOVE (clockwise from top left): Raymond at work in his studio; Shanghai; Tartan Fan – here you can see each painted stitch; Peking Peony painted design.

Who do you most admire in the arts and crafts world?
My favourite designers are the sisters Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell (Collier Campbell). They have produced glorious ranges of beautifully coloured textile designs, and their original art is exquisite.

Do you have any advice for others who want to be more creative?
I’m also a senior lecturer at the University of Cumbria and am always telling my students to set out their ideal environment in which to work – even if it’s just a small room or space in a room – and to surround themselves with inspirational objects that they find visually stimulating.

Raymond’s work can be bought from ehrmantapestry.com; prices start at around £40 for a cushion. You can see his art at the exhibition, A Passion for Painting Pattern at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture, until 20 March 2011 (moda.mdx.ac.uk). His book of the same name costs £13 (inc P&P), and is available via amazon.co.uk.

FEATURE NAOMI JONES
Featured in the October 2010 issue of Period Living