As you may know, my kitchen textiles, tote bags and melamine coasters are made for me in the UK by a wonderful family business - Countryside Art Textiles, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire - in the east of England. Whilst spending time visiting my family in Oxfordshire this February, was able to take a side trip to visit the wonderful folk at Countryside and take a look at how my work would go from painting, to a finished tea towel.
I was shown around by Anita Chapman, to whom I have been chatting to for years, via email and also by Lawrence Chapman, Anita’s husband, whose family started the business in 1975. Lawrence’s sister, Kathy Brooks, the Sales director at Countryside, was away at a trade show, sadly when I visited.
It was fascinating to witness the team at Countryside working on complex designs for well known companies such as Liberty, The British Museum, Cadburys and the National Trust and to know that the reason my designs translate so beautifully onto the high quality tea towels I sell, is because of the experience and skill of the close knit family I met.
Below is a little more about Countryside Art
https://www.countrysideart.co.uk/about-us/
Anita and I meet after so many emails!
Lawrence and I discuss the difference in Fabrics available for the various products I make
In the screen printing room
In the Digital Print Department
In the sewing and finishing room
Discussing future projects!