Katy Hackney is one amazing surface designer. {And not to be confused with contemporary jeweller Katy Hackney, who I might just find a spot for in a later post! đ }.
Surface designer Katy’s designs are gorgeously delicate, hand-drawn, and lyrical; they are gentle and  sweet, reminiscent of a bygone era. But they also possess an edge, somehow cleverly achieved without being pushy – they have little touches of neon colour, a crispness and flat background most often associated with digital technology.
katy hackney – orchard blossom – wallpaper
katy hackney – nouveau {neon}
She lives in a little cottage tucked away in the British countryside, and she says her garden, the ever-changing seasons, and all the birds that come to visit provide an endless source of inspiration for her.
“I like to hand draw all of my designs with pen and inks. Then I scan the drawn motifs into my computer and build up the layers, adding coloured ink effects behind the delicate line work. Gradually one by one all the motifs are pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle to create an unusual composition of a botanical world.” Other inspirational designers include Abigail Borg for her botanical studies, Johanna Basford for her beautiful inked line work and Brian Freud, a watercolour artist of the mystical world.
katy hackney – nightshade garden
Before she started Hackney & Co, Katy, amongst many other things, has been featured in the Swarovski Crystal book, Crystal Living and in Elle Decor UK, as well as working on a collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Museum.
“My biggest achievement early on in my career was making a bespoke Swarovski crystal throw which was featured in Elle DĂ©cor. A few years later I completed a project with the Victoria & Albert Museum London creating a range of licensed mugs from images in their archives.
“I have been a textile surface pattern designer for many years. I studied Multi-Media Textiles at Loughborough University, concentrating on embroidery and distressing fabrics. I soon went on to create patterns for both fashion and homewares for many successful companies around the world. My work for others had always been behind the scenes, but I needed the confidence and know-how to start a business of my own. I wanted to produce patterns that I felt were pleasing to the eye, and not because I had been set a brief from a customer or was following the trends.”
katy hackney – winter garden
The launch of her solo career only happened recently, in March this year, after undertaking a course with surface design guru Rachael Taylor. Katy told me that she came up with the name ‘Hackney & Co’ from two of her biggest inspirations – the work of iconic English surface designer William Morris, who named his company Morris & Co, and the print collections of Liberty & Co.
katy hackney – studio space
And her best ever piece of advice? “Was from my Art Teacher – ‘If a design is not going your way, step back, turn it upside down and look at in a reflection of a mirror. This gives you a new perspective.'”
You can find more of Katy’s designs on her blog, hackneyandco.
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With thanks to Katy for sharing her words and images here.
Absolutely beautiful work đ