Meet the Maker - Annabel Perrin

This week we are catching up with Annabel Perrin who creates colourful and geometric products for the home.

How would you describe your style?
Mid-century modern, colourful, geometric, bold and full of life! My interiors products are ideal for making a statement in your home!

Where do you work and does your location influence your work?
I work from my home studio in Nottinghamshire. I moved back here (after several years in
Manchester) last November and I'm temporarily working in the spare room, while I convert
a dilapidated, garden outhouse into my new workspace!
My patterns and products are influenced by architecture and cityscapes, so I'm enjoying
rediscovering Nottingham for more inspiration!

How did you get started as an artist/designer?
I've been creative for as long as I can remember and always excelled at anything arty at
school. I trained as a textile designer at Manchester School of Art. After several enjoyable
design internships and working as an Operations Manager for an independent online retail
company, I was eager to combine all skills to set up my own creative business. So, in 2011
I went back to University to complete a Masters in Design. During this time I developed my
business plan and created my first collection of surface pattern designs for furnishing
fabrics, cushions and tea towels. It was a proud and nervous moment when I launched my
first product range in February 2013. Since then I have branched into ceramics, wallpaper
and stationery too.

Can you give us an idea of some of your creative processes?
When creating a new range I start with a brainstorming session. I'll think about what I
would like to achieve from the new collection, particularly in terms of the look and feel of
the range, and also what new products I’d like to introduce. I’ll then decide on my colour
scheme and start drawing and designing patterns based on this. I’m a perfectionist and I
experiment with colour, composition and scale several times over before finalising a
design! Then it’s time to create my product. My fabrics are digitally printed in the
Manchester and then handmade into cushions, lampshades and tea towels (etc) by either
myself or local family run businesses.

What is inspiring you or your work just now?
I'm currently putting the finishing touches to a new home textiles collection, which will
launch next spring. It's inspired by California, where I spent my honeymoon last summer.
Think sunset hues and bold textured motifs!

What is your favourite thing about Nottingham?
Having recently moved back here, from Manchester where the arts scene is booming, it's
great to see the same thing is happening here! I love exploring the independent galleries
and shops within the city and also the surrounding countryside in Nottinghamshire. My
family have always lived round here and my Grandma once ran her own interiors shop in
Southwell, selling fabric and wallpaper by prestigious brands. It feels like things I'm
carrying on her legacy now.

The best piece of makers advice you have been given or can give to others?
I've been given lots of advice of the years but here are the snippets that have stuck with
me…

Make sure you have great lifestyle imagery of your products, so people can imagine what
it will be like to have them in their home/ to wear them/ to use them. This will make them
more likely to want to buy them!

Give yourself a break - take time out when things aren't working and go back to it with a
fresh head later.

Go out and meet other designers where possible. I love doing shows and markets, as
they're a great way to meet like-minded people, especially if you work on your own a lot of
the time, like I do!

Find Annabel Perrin available in store!