William Morris inspired
Some of my work is very much inspired by William Morris' beautiful repeating patterns based on the natural world (although mine usually contain a bit of whimsy in the form of cats!).
Aside from the visual element, there is an element of William Morris' ethos which also resonates - Morris championed the concept of handmade and craftsmanship at a time when, as a nation, we were deep in the depths of industrial mass production, where the reality was an industrialised society that prioritised efficiency over artistry.
This tension between the desire for unique, handcrafted items and the allure of mass-produced convenience continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about art and craftsmanship today, sparking a renewed interest in the value of traditional skills and the importance of supporting local artisans. Morris's legacy reminds us that in a world of uniformity, individuality and creativity remain vital.
Catkin Tree Studio tries to balance the challenge of handmade by printing (in the UK) our artworks on to homewares and gifts so that artwork is more affordable and accessible to enjoy everyday. We dont stock national shop chains - its a small scale production, with much of what we do sold directly to customers at fairs or from our own website.
Find out more about our William Morris inspired artworks below, and visit our shop page to see these as prints available to buy.
That Aint A Dog Rose
Copyright Catkin Tree Studio 2022.
Acrylic paint on canvas board
Acrylic paint on canvas board inspired by the Arts and Crafts moment. Originally inspired by William Morris' Rose pattern, found on a vintage curtain. Its an illusion of cats as flora, serenely hiding amongst the roses and leaves. There are 12 cats hidden in the artwork, some more obvious than others.
Cat-Themed Artworks
That Aint A Strawberry Thief
Copyright Catkin Tree Studio 2023.
Acrylic paint on canvas board
Acrylic paint on canvas board inspired by the Arts and Crafts moment. Its an illusion of cats as flora, some pursuing a dream of ham while others look on longingly. A gently fun mirror to Morris’ famous “Strawberry Thief” it reminds us not to be too serious! Instead of birds stealing strawberries, the design features cheeky cats pinching ham hocks. There are 12 cats hidden in the artwork, some with ruffs of strawberry flower petals. There are also some strawberry flowers and strawberries, as a further reference back to the original inspiration.
Cats and Acorns
Copyright Catkin Tree Studio 2024.
Acrylic paint on canvas board
Acrylic paint on canvas board inspired (in part) by William Morris' Willow Pattern seen on a relatives dining room curtains! There are cheeky cats hiding and stealing acorns from each other, and occasionally throwing them. Have you spotted the parachuting cat?
English Rose and Scottish Thistle
Copyright Catkin Tree Studio 2024.
Acrylic paint on canvas board - miniature (10x10cm)
Minture acrylic paintings on canvas boards, the originals approximately 10x10cm. Two of the National Flowers, with the rose done in a semi-traditional Tudor Rose style, and the thistle also taking a stylised, flattened design.
Other William Morris inspired Artworks
Pattern of Pinks
Copyright Catkin Tree Studio 2026.
Acrylic paint on canvas board
A small 15 x 15cm painting of scented pinks / carnations in a repeating pattern, and a work-in-progress photograph. The regular mirror image style of this design (as with some of the cat artworks above) is achieved by drawing half of the flowers / stems on tracing paper, then folding and transferring the design across to the other side to create neat mirror images. No matter how hard you try, its very difficult to get everything lined up to create a true repeating pattern that can be used as a pattern repeat across wallpaper and fabric! How William Morris managed to create repeating designs with so much precision, I just cannot imagine!
