I was introduced to Nancy Straughan by Georgia Coote a little while ago. Oh my goodness. She has such a stunning range of prints, and she’s only 23. She’s already been featured on guru blogs DesignSponge, and decor8, so I feel quite honoured to interview her!
I love her textures and simple, organic shapes. Nancy mixes up elements of photography, mark making, and paper printing with textures of stones, animal fur, and rusting metal to produce her bold yet gentle designs. The fabrics (lots of delectable linen) would be completely fabulous as wallpaper, soft furnishings, and clothing.
geometric abstraction - black & white
geometric abstraction - red & aqua
Briefly outline how your business came about (and when did you start)?
When I graduated from university I had no idea what I wanted to do with the skills I had learnt. I went through a few options and decided that I really didn’t like the idea of a lot of them. Once I had made a list of all the choices I was interested in the one that really stood out to me was to become my own boss and go at it alone creating patterns and products. I’ve only been at it for a few months but I’m quite proud of my progress so far, I think I have learnt a lot about the freelance textile industry and I can’t wait to see what else will come along.
"organic textures" range
"Organic textures" range
Do/did you have another career before this? (And other work experiences relevant to your design/craft?)
I’ve had some lovely jobs in the past including working with a interior design company. But I’m only 23 so not many of my previous job have related to craft, unfortunatley! Right now as well as freelancing and creating my own products I also teach craft workshops such as printmaking and beginners sewing.
What are your childhood experiences and memories of craft and/or design?
I was brought up with a very liberal and artistic outlook. My father was the creative director of an advertising agency and a fabulous artist, photographer, and could design anything he put his mind to! My mother is a interior stylist who has built a fantastic home full of paintings and prints. Together they brought my brother and I up to appreciate all forms of art. My brother Tom went on to study painting at Glasgow Art School, so really it was written in the stars that I would choose a creative path too! I can’t really pinpoint a particular moment or memory because my whole childhood revolved around creativity.
"organic textures" range - dress in 100% silk
What is your worst experience as a crafter/designer, and how did you overcome it?
No one tells you how many mistakes or bad things will come about if you choose to become self employed. Everything that gets designed and made is down to me alongside all the marketing and admin stuff. So quite often I get worn out with all the work I have to do. I suppose the only way to overcome feeling overwhelmed by all I have to face is to make sure I have some quality down time with my friends and boyfriend and reflect on what I’ve achieved (or haven’t achieved) that week.
What has been the hardest single obstacle to your life in design/craft?
I suppose believing in yourself is the toughest part. I’ll get nowhere if I don’t believe people will actually like or buy what I make. That part can get tough if you’re hitting a lot of obstacles, but I have a lot of exciting projects on the go so I’m trying to stay focused on that.
"organic textures" range
"organic textures" range
What has been the icing on the cake for you as a designer/craftsperson?
Just that fact that people respond so positively to what I design. I can’t wish for anything more than appreciation! I get so many lovely comments and positive feedback it really spurs me on to thinking “I can do this”. The most exciting part is thinking what is around the corner, I can’t wait to see what comes up next.
Who do you admire? What/who are your biggest influences, past or present?
I’m really inspired by textile designers from the 1950s and 60s such as Lucienne Day and Henry Moore. But I have a soft spot for Scandinavian designers such as Lotta Jansdotter and Josef Frank. And my Father, because he was incredibly creative but was also a wonderful person. I doubt I’ll ever meet anyone else like him. I think he has influenced pretty much every thing I do, the good and the bad.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Say yes to everything and figure it all out later!
Wow! Definitely a fab philosophy to live by (although I’m getting tired just thinking about it…).
workspace