Annie Sloan Painter in Residence
Annie Sloan
Client
Location
Melissa White Studio, Hastings
2025-26
Date
I was delighted to be invited as Annie Sloan’s Painter in Residence, a programme that asks leading creatives to push the boundaries of what is possible with decorative paint. For me, this was a homecoming; I have used chalk paint for over thirty years. It is a medium that perfectly captures the matte, breathable quality of the wall painting I study.
Working from my Hastings studio, I treated this residency as a laboratory to explore the intersection of pattern, patina, and play
The Projects: Heritage in Practice
01 | The QEST Chest
This piece is a love letter to folk traditions. Inspired by a blend of Swedish folk art and Indian block prints, the vintage chest is alive with dancing deer, fantastical palms, and serene figures with rainbow halos. Lift the lid, and the story continues with a spotty horse wandering through a painted grove.
Status: Donated and sold at the QEST Charity Auction, October 2025.
02 | The Golden Cross Grotesque Door
A showcase of intricate, historically informed Elizabethan Grotesque work. This project allowed me to dive deep into the 'ordered chaos' of Tudor painter-stainer traditions, using the versatility of the Annie Sloan palette to create a piece that feels architectural and ancient.
Shop Note: This flagship piece is currently available for purchase. It represents a rare opportunity to own a large-scale, one-off residency work.
03 | Emily’s Garden Cupboard
A demonstration of narrative storytelling through furniture. I used the panels of this cupboard to play out a whimsical, folkloric scene, proving that the surface of a functional object can hold as much magic as a gallery canvas.
04 | Chalkhouse Stripe
The Chalkhouse Stripe began as a tiny fragment of 19th-century wallpaper discovered in a miniature doll’s house. Reimagined at life-scale, this hand-painted panel celebrates the charm of the small-scale repeat, finished with a chalky, distressed patina that feels like it has been part of a house for centuries. I’m delighted to share that I will soon be stocking Chalkhouse Stripe in my Shop.
05 | Cotswold Dusk Fresco Secco Panel
An exploration of atmospheric, layered surface textures. Here, I pushed the paint to its limits to mimic the "patination of time," creating a scenic landscape that feels as though it were uncovered from a centuries-old manor rather than painted in 2025.
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“This residency was a laboratory for ‘decorative intelligence.’ Whether painting the QEST Chest or the Golden Cross Door, I explored the intersection of pattern and patina, proving that historical artisan techniques have a vibrant, commercial future in the modern home.”