When Illustration Meets Interiors
Say hello to the talent behind your new favourite tea towel!
We first encountered the multi-talented (and prizewinning, no less) illustrator and designer Anna Platts at a festive Artisan Christmas Market within Plymouth’s Royal William Yard, where her homewares stopped us in our mince pie-munching tracks…and that doesn’t happen very often!
Delicate yet bold, charmingly British with a twist of whimsical storytelling, her signature palette and intricately illustrated designs had us swooning immediately.
Now, having just put her hand to the signage and illustration for Exeter Quay’s new(ish) indie restaurant Crave, we’ve decided we’re hooked and so we had to find out more about Anna and her brilliant brand.
She’s drawn Matthew McConaughey; need we say more?
Anna’s story starts long before mulled wine and market stalls; over twenty years ago in fact, after graduating from her illustration degree at UWE Bristol, when she set off on a creative adventure that took her from the West Country to Hong Kong (via Beijing, no less), to work on a project opposite the Olympic Stadium.
Nowadays, her client list continues to be as varied as her sketchbooks—from boutique hotels to The National Trust, international fabric houses to illustrating prize-winning children’s books, like the colourful Dudley’s Garden [pictured].
She’s a master of Toile de Jouy (think: elegant, illustrated storytelling on fabric), and has even drawn the one and only Matthew McConaughey for a custom Toile design that starred in one of his charity Gala events. ‘Alright, alright, alright’, indeed!
Proof that textiles can be both practical and ridiculously pretty.
Anna’s work doesn’t stop at paper—her own label, Anna Platts Homewares, launched nearly seven years ago, bringing her art into the kitchen, the lounge, and even your perfectly curated guest room. Think silk scarves, kitchen textiles, wallpapers, and more— designed with her signature illustrations of Fauna and Flora.
These designs have us dreaming of balmy summer days to come - we can dream, right?!
And if you’re after something more bespoke, Anna also undertakes private and commercial commissions. You can find her at Artisan Markets across the South West, sharing her creations (and usually a good chat) with customers old and new.
Want more Anna in your life? Us too…
You can discover Anna’s full range of illustrated homewares, peek behind the scenes and see where she’s popping up next easily enough!
Give her a follow over on Instagram: @annaplattsillustration; explore the delightful Dudley’s Garden book series (now stocked by the RHS!) and learn more about all of Anna’s collaborative projects with schools and the National Trust; and don’t forget the website of course (hit the link below). Or you could say hi IRL at one of the many artisan markets she frequents across the South West (keep an eye on her Insta for details). Bring your shopping bag and your best chat!
