Arcadian Thames
A bespoke landscape commission for Zoffany’s fabric & wallpaper collection of the same name. The design frames a vista of riverside life, uniting elements of iconic London architecture with mythical creatures from Tudor history.
Project Type: WALLPAPER COMMISSION
Client: Zoffany (Sanderson Design Group)
Availability: By the roll
Size: H: 300cm x w: 205.5cm (three drops per roll).
Colourways x 2: Wedgwood Blue and Mineral
Date: launched Summer 2023
I am delighted to have once again collaborated with Zoffany on an epic narrative wallpaper design.
Meaning ‘rural paradise’, Arcadia is a place of virtue and pleasure; a glorious waterside idyll, where nature breathes, and romantic gardens thrive.
My brief for this wallpaper design was to capture the essence of the Arcadian Thames in an fantastical floor-to-ceiling landscape. I was to re-envisage the iconic architecture dotted along this idyllic stretch of the river as it wends its way west out of London. The mythical King’s Beasts, including a unicorn, a dragon and a yale (with spinning horns!) are pictured wandering along the riverbanks.
Working closely with Zoffany’s Design Director Peter Gomez I drew upon references from tapestries, medieval bestiaries and classical art to create a collage composition. This I then traced in outline and projected onto paper at my studio. Using chalk paints I worked on the final artwork for several weeks. Look closely and you’ll spot Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare, Strawberry Hill House and chapel, Marble House, Hampton Court and in the far distance Syon House.
The Arcadian Thames Collection
Inspired by the grandeur of riverside mansions and meticulously landscaped grounds, this Zoffany collection (launched Summer 2023) comprises five prints, five weaves, one embroidery, and six exquisite wallcoverings. Many of the designs are re-worked from documents in Zoffany’s incredible archive. My design along with an exquisite embroidery by Livia Papiernik were newly commissioned to complete the collection. Paying homage to the visionary spirit of 19th-century nobility, Arcadian Thames showcases enduring masterpieces that celebrate the beauty of the English landscape.
Learn how to hang this beautiful wallpaper by downloading Zoffany’s guide.
Unboxing my first roll of Arcadian Thames
