Collaboration: RORY HUTTON X NARA CAMBRIDGE homeware range launched

Award-winning designer and illustrator Rory Hutton has joined forces with independent homeware brand Nara Cambridge to launch  a range of home linens.

Designer RORY HUTTON (right) andAlexandra Bishop, Founder of  NARA CAMBRIDGE with their

  tablecloth that features a timeless cobalt blue and white teapot design.
Photographed at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK.
 

The charming RORY HUTTON X NARA CAMBRIDGE range includes a tablecloth, matching napkin and tea towel featuring a series of ten teapots, inspired by the ceramics of the world-renowned Fitzwilliam Museum,  the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge.

The design of the set features heritage motifs with a modern twist.   Largely from the 18th century, the teapots that provided inspiration included several fine examples of English creamware as well as a charming Staffordshire pot in the shape of a house.

The tablecloth design plays with pattern and colour and features ten teapots.

Printing is done by hand – no screens or other machines
 are employed – and no harmful chemicals or dyes are used. 

The fabrics have been hand-printed using
 natural dyes on
machine washable 100% Cotton.

“The significance of everyday household ceramics such as teapots can sometimes be forgotten. However, these pieces are an important part of our social and cultural heritage, symbols of much-loved rituals and often holding enormous sentimental value” explains Hutton.

Helen Ritchie, Senior Curator of Modern & Contemporary Applied Arts at The Fitzwilliam Museum, adds: “It is wonderful to see teapots from the Fitzwilliam's extensive and important collection of ceramics used in such a beautiful and imaginative way. Intended originally to be used in the home, it is charming to think of these teapots once again adorning people's tables".

Cambridge-based Rory Hutton is recipient of multiple accolades, having designed numerous silk scarves - often featuring vivid lino cuts and striking block designs - for UK arts and heritage institutions, including The Royal Collection and Victoria & Albert Museum and those mentioned above. His creative inspirations include architecture, theatre, opera, and dance. 

Earlier this year, Hutton put out a trio of silk scarfs to  celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen.   

In the January 2023 issue of The English Home, Rory Hutton was awarded a New Year Honours in the category of 'Rising Stars'.  He is also a Scottish Edge winner; Ion Magazine Breakthrough Awards winner; runner-up in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and nominated for the ACE (Association of Cultural Enterprises) Awards.

Though relatively new to the interiors’ scene, Nara Cambridge has already stamped its mark with a collection of high-quality homeware, making use of traditional techniques where it can.   

RORY HUTTON X NARA CAMBRIDGE is no exception. The pair have worked with artisans in Rajasthan, India to combine traditional hand block print techniques with contemporary design.  Reimagining an ancient craft for the modern home whilst providing a dignified livelihood to local artisans.   

Alexandra Bishop, Founder of Nara Cambridge adds: “RORY HUTTON X NARA CAMBRIDGE is joyful - capturing the quirky elegance of Rory Hutton’s design with all the practical benefits of beautifully block-printed fabrics.  

“Hand block printing is a very physical process which gives unpredictable results but, the imperfections add a painterly quality and are what makes this collection so charming”. 

Rory Hutton Goes Royal: A Trio of Coronation Scarves to commemorate King Charles III Coronation

A trio of silk scarf designed by renowned accessories designer and illustrator Rory Hutton celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen.   

They have been designed and produced specifically for three esteemed institutions, namely Westminster Abbey, Highgrove and The National Portrait Gallery.

If one's searching for a gift or seeking a stylish addition to one's own collection, these scarfs (all 90x90cm) would be great options to commemorate the special occasion.

Designed exclusively for Westminster Abbey where the coronation will take place on May 6th, Rory has designed this classic silk scarf shown below to commemorate the first coronation to take place at the Abbey in 70 years.  Rory took inspiration from the oak leaves and birds represented on the coronation chair, the Abbey’s medieval tiles and the heraldic animals and plants which symbolise the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.

British designer Rory Hutton holds up a silk scarf he had designed exclusively for
Westminster Abbey to mark the coronation of King Charles III

Created from Rory’s signature linocut illustrations, this intricate medieval inspired design of the Abbey scarf looks resplendent in a vintage style colour palette of red, white and blue. The borders are emblazoned with the names of the King and Queen as well as the coronation date.

Separately Rory has designed another silk scarf exclusively for Highgrove, the family residence of King Charles III and his Queen. It lies southwest of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, England.

Rory Hutton's silk scarf designed exclusively for Highgrove

Rory drew inspiration from the gardens at Highgrove, including motifs such as delphiniums, ferns, and elegantly clipped topiaries. These emblematic Highgrove features are intertwined with HM The King and HM The Queen's insignias, and dates of the Coronation, along with a border of oak leaves and acorns, evoke a sense of grandeur and festivity.

Set against a rich, patriotic colour palette, this 90x90cm silk scarf is complete with rolled-edges comes presented in a printed card envelope, making it an excellent gift option for a loved one or a stylish addition to your own collection.

And finally the third silk scarf to commemorate the Coronation by Rory Hutton is this silk scarf below in a black and neutral colourway designed exclusively for the National Portrait Gallery by Rory Hutton.

This Rory Hutton silk scarf for the National Portrait Gallery Collection features a central emblem marking
King Charles III, with the dates of the Coronation.

Inspired by British monarchs, the design features a 'family tree' consisting of British monarchs throughout history all of whom are featured sitters in the National Portrait Gallery Collection. 

Rory Hutton is an award winning artist, print maker and historian. His work draws inspiration from architecture, theatre and dance, and he has collaborated with numerous arts and heritage institutions.

Also designed by Rory for the National Portrait Gallery Collection for the Coronation is a silk pocket square that measures 35x35cm.

Cambridge-based Rory Hutton is recipient of multiple accolades, having designed numerous silk scarves - often featuring vivid lino cuts and striking block designs - for UK arts and heritage institutions, including The Royal Collection and Victoria & Albert Museum and those mentioned above. His creative inspirations include architecture, theatre, opera, and dance. 

In the January 2023 issue of The English Home, Rory Hutton was awarded a New Year Honours in the category of 'Rising Stars'.  He is also a Scottish Edge winner; Ion Magazine Breakthrough Awards winner; runner-up in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and nominated for the ACE (Association of Cultural Enterprises) Awards.

Rory Hutton's new scarf for Westminster Abbey commemorates King Charles III Coronation

Award-winning, Cambridge-based designer Rory Hutton has launched a new scarf designed exclusively for Westminster Abbey as the official King Charles III Coronation scarf to commemorate the first coronation to take place at the Abbey in 70 years.

Rory started working with Westminster Abbey since 2019 on this classic silk scarf, shown at left with the British designer and below.

He took inspiration from the oak leaves and birds represented on the coronation chair, the Abbey’s medieval tiles and the heraldic animals and plants which symbolise the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.  

Created from Rory’s signature linocut illustrations, this intricate medieval inspired design is resplendent in a vintage-style colour palette of red, white and blue. The borders are emblazoned with the names of the King and Queen as well as the coronation date.

The official King Charles III Coronation scarf by Rory Hutton was commissioned by Westminster Abbey 
to commemorate the first coronation to take place at the Abbey in 70 years.
Made in Italy in 100% silk, the scarf measures: 90x90cm. 

This year, the artist,, known also as a print maker and historian, is also celebrating his 10th anniversary since starting his business in 2013 with handmade Irish linen bow ties.

In the January 2023 edition of The English Home, he was awarded a New Year Honour in the category "Rising Stars",  while the Homes & Antiques magazine had described the designer’s scarves as ‘worthy collectables’.  Previous awards included Ion Magazine Breakthrough Awards winner and runner-up in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Rewilding Blooms scarf (45x45cm) created by Rory Hutton, featuring lively linocut illustrations of Ground Elder, Primroses, Brambles, Buttercups, Ragged Robin, Nettles, Cow Parsley, foxgloves, bluebells, dog roses, daffodils, and orchids. This scarf is designed to celebrate the theme of rewilding, showcasing the beauty of native
plant species that are essential to our ecosystems.  It is a result of the collaboration between Rory Hutton, and Hannah Gardner, a Kew-trained head gardener with over 20 years of experience in sustainable and organic horticulture.

Rory Hutton said: “From making bow ties in my home studio in Wimbledon and achieving considerable success with my silk scarves to receiving a thrilling commission to design a range of items to celebrate the King’s coronation, it has been a hugely rewarding decade for me.

“At the heart of my work - essentially, guiding it for every item - are a commitment to reinterpret historical themes for modern audiences, and a joy in creating visually striking and culturally relevant designs."

Rory Hutton's Constance scarf in blue (90x90cm).

It features roses and peonies tied in elaborate bouquets alongside Chinese fans of varying shapes. These prints were developed from lino blocks lending them a distinctive and contemporary feel.
This design is available in four unique colour-ways.

Rory Hutton Anniversay Portrait by Anne Schwarz

Rory Hutton has collaborated with more than 30 major heritage and retail institutions at home and abroad, including Buckingham Palace, The British Museum, The Royal Opera House, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Theatre, Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in California.  Notable clients include Fortnum & Mason of Piccadilly and Brown Thomas, Dublin.

Over the last five years, Rory has designed over 100 silk scarves, featuring his signature linocut illustrations and block colours, most of them commissioned by clients to celebrate major exhibitions, events, and anniversaries, including a Queen Elizabeth II commemorative scarf commissioned by Westminster Abbey, and Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic for The British Museum. 

Rory’s most recent collection has been inspired by the 400th anniversary this year of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio, widely regarded as one of the most significant literary treasures in the world. The range is stocked by the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Westminster Abbey, and The British Museum.

Rory’s charitable work includes designing Christmas cards for The Hands Up Foundation to raise funds for medical centres and schools in Syria and Lebanon; and designing crowdfunding awards for The Art Fund’s ‘Conserve Canaletto’ campaign.

As his business enters its second decade, Rory plans to move into interior design, encompassing tablecloths, napkins, wallpapers, and upholstery fabrics - both, for the home and the UK and international hospitality sector - all of which will be informed by his deep love of art, craft, and heritage.

All images courtesy of Rory Hutton Ltd.

Designer Rory Hutton adds new designs to his popular Garden Collection of scarves

Just in time for nature’s launch of Spring and the approaching Mother’s Day celebrations in the UK, textile designer Rory Hutton has looked ahead to the warmer months with a new range of scarves to add to his Garden Collection.  As always, his designs are enriched with inspiration from iconic garden designers and their amazing themes, as well as mythical stories.

Silk scarf: Gertrude's Garden
by Rory Hutton.

Rory said over the long dark months of January and February, he has been busily distracting himself with the joys of summer, looking ahead to bountiful gardens ablaze with flowers and colour.  

The result is three new scarves (as shown below) which draw inspiration from Vita Sackville-West’s White Garden, Gertrude Jeykll’s colourful borders and the mythical Flora, Roman goddess of flowering plants. All three new scarves in 100% silk, measure 90 x 90cm, have rolled edges and are made in Italy.

Rory said, “I hope these scarves will inspire sartorial gardeners everywhere and become the accessory of choice for tea on the lawn or an afternoon spent weeding and pruning!”, quoting English author and garden designer Vita Sackville-West who once said “Flowers really do intoxicate me” this is a sentiment that Rory Hutton can certainly agree with. For Spring/Summer 2022 the designer is adding three new designs to his popular Garden Collection.

The first scarf in this trio is called Vita’s White Garden and features the above quote together with another from Vita Sackville-West, "Still, no gardener would be a gardener if he did not live in hope". 

Vita Sackville-West designed a white garden at her home, Sissinghurst Castle in the county of Kent. The garden is now iconic and widely regarded as one of the first modern gardens in Britain. 

 

Rory says, ‘I’ve always been drawn to this idea, a white garden is as much a study of green as it is of white and I can’t imagine anything more calming than being surrounded by the subtle beauty of white and green on a summers day.’

 

Formal parterres and knot gardens dominate the center of this design and are surrounded by an array of white flowers in bloom. ‘I have poured my longing for such a space into this design’.

The next scarf is Gertrude's Garden, inspired garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. Influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement, Jekyll created some of the most celebrated Edwardian and early twentieth century gardens. Particularly noted for her explosions of colour, Jekyll had a painterly approach to her gardens and her work can be found throughout the British Isles and further afield. A keen plants woman, Jekyll began collecting and cultivating plants at a young age, sourcing interesting specimens from the wild as well as ancient cottage gardens.

 

Of this design Rory says, "This is the most colourful design I have ever attempted, Jekyll has inspired me to be brave!"

The flowers featured in the design were all used by Jekyll in her schemes. The garden bench at the center is in a style favored by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens was a great admirer of Jekyll’s work and they regularly collaborated, her designing the gardens to compliment his buildings.

The cat seated on Lutyen’s bench is a nod to Jekyll's love of feline company, she even included a chapter titled ‘Pussies in the Garden’ in her 1908 book, Children and Gardens.

The third design is entitled Temple of Flora, an ode to Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowering plants. In this design Flora takes centre stage. Holding a garland of flowers she stands in a classical temple. 

Featuring a vibrant red and pink scarf, the colours of roses, Flora’s temple is surrounded by formal parterre and knot gardens with ornately scrolling ironwork marking the perimeter.  The outer borders are filled with a joyful abundance of flowering specimens.

Other features within the garden include a dovecote, birdbath, potted orange tree, a sundial and elegant tulipieres or tulip holders. In front of the temple we can see the gardener’s dog together with her abandoned sun hat and watering can.

All images courtesy of Rory Hutton.

British designer Rory Hutton creates new scarfs with interior design and stately homes as main theme

British textile designer, artist and historian Rory Hutton is launching a new range of silk scarfs, created with interior design aficionados in mind.  The collection draws inspiration from two distinct sources; the Aesthetic home inspired by 19th century tastemakers William Morris, Oscar Wilde and their artistic circle, as well as a whimsical take on the grand rooms of the stately home.

Blue Aesthete Scarf by Rory Hutton inspired by iconic 19th century tastemakers.

These classic 90x90cm silk scarves feature an iconic quote from William Morris (the iconic designer of the Arts and Crafts Movement) - Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful - which has been lino-printed in an Arts and Crafts style font. 

The quote was frequently used by Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde in his lectures on taste and decoration, and perfectly sums up the Aesthetic approach to interior design, and is just as relevant to designers and decorators in the 21st century as it was in the 19th century, said Rory.

Green Aesthete Scarf by
Rory Hutton.

Alongside the quote is a classic Sussex chair. Based on vernacular furniture and designed by Philip Webb this chair was the must have item of artistic furniture for the aesthetic decorator.

The design also features sunflowers in Chinese style vases. Sunflowers are one of the most iconic emblems of the Aesthetic movement and were used widely on all kinds of household wares. Many followers of the movement collected blue and white Chinese and Japanese porcelains, James McNeill Whistler and Dante Gabrielle Rossetti among them.

The Stately Home is the theme of another collection by Rory Hutton.  

Scarf in 90 cm x 90 cm - Rococo Hounds by Rory Hutton.
All his scarfs, along with shawls, greeting cards and accessories are available on his website,
a perfect place for sourcing gifts for Christmas and all occasions.

These elaborate prints feature ornately framed portraits of family dogs, rococo side chairs, humped back sofas, flamboyant bouquets influenced by floral designer Constance Spry and gilt pier glasses in the Chinoiserie taste. All elements combine to create an elaborate whimsical pattern.

In developing these designs Rory Hutton drew on his collection of sketchbooks where he has recorded details from visits to stately homes and auction houses over many years. The designer’s signature lino cut prints have a lively and characterful appearance with many playful details to delight.

Rory Hutton begins his creations as drawings, which are turned into linocuts and hand-printed before being digitally composed and coloured. The designs are then sent to Lake Como in Italy where they are digitally printed on to the finest Italian silk.  His collections have included luxury scarves, ties, pocket squares, bow ties and also socks.  His prints have also been licensed by museums and galleries for use on a number of complementary products including tote bags, greetings cards, stationary, ceramics and even soap.  

British designers find inspiration from gardening legends and the English countryside

Photo by Lucia Carpio of her own garden.

As lockdowns across the nation persist, the notion of wellbeing-focused design is more relevant than ever.  Organisers at Decorex (the London-based interiors trade fair) have hand-selected a series of trend reports, articles and webinars to keep us motivated and provide insight into how our homes can form the perfect sanctuary.  

As the pandemic continues to disrupt our lives, we also recognise the importance of staying connected with nature, being in our gardens and open spaces outdoors can provide the much-needed balance for our mental wellbeing.  

BBC’s new weekly programme, Your Garden Made Perfect hosted by Angela Scanlon provides valuable ideas on how “to transform tired gardens into idyllic wonderlands”, and has fired up my enthusiasm to embark on my own garden projects once the weather improves of course.  But not everyone has access to a garden and may find inspiration via various means.

Bunny's Garden scarf, 90 x 90 cm, by Rory Hutton,
available online. 
All of his scarves are from prints created from his original lino cuts. 
The three scarves shown here are from the Garden Collection
made in 100% Italian silk.  

British premium textile designer Rory Hutton who is not only an artist but also a historian has revealed he has made the garden theme his main design focus this year, launching with a new collection of scarves that were recently showcased on the Top Drawer On Demand digital event (which is normally held in London.)

Writing in his blog, Rory says although living in central London without a green patch of his own, he had re-connected with the outdoors through rediscovering three truly original 20th century gardening legends: Vita Sackville-West and Lady Rhoda Birley, and American horticulturalist Rachel "Bunny" Lambert Mellon.  

Orangerie Garden scarf by Rory Hutton, available online.

“These women of means managed to landscape, plant and prune with sartorial panache. Bunny enjoyed gardening attire by Balenciaga and Givenchy, Vita preferred farmhand chic in breeches and gaiters, while Rhoda favoured jaunty straw hats with whimsical scarves,” says Rory.  

Even more distinguished than their style were the gardening achievements of these women, Rory writes. "Vita’s gardens at her home, Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, embody the quintessential English Country Garden and lead the way for English garden design in the 20th century.  Charleston Manor (not to be confused with nearby Charleston House, home of the Bloomsbury group) in Sussex, was Rhoda’s home. From the 1930’s she planted and maintained the gardens herself keeping her roses vibrant by feeding them, rather controversially,  her ‘superior fish stew’.  

"Through lino cutting my illustrations of gardening tools, green houses and watering cans, I too managed to achieve a peaceful state of mind. Industriously using one’s hands to create something beautiful is a reward in itself and something I share with these lady gardeners who inspired me." 

"Bunny’s gardening skills took her right to the centres of power. Her credits include the Rose Garden at the White House and the Kitchen Garden at Versailles. Her own Oak Spring Farms estate in Upperville, Virginia has been celebrated by both garden and interior designers, horticulturalists and tastemakers during her lifetime and up to the present day. The greenhouse complex at her estate with painted trompe l’oeil scenes of garden implements on the storage cabinets, was a particular inspiration to me, " writes Rory.  

Manor Garden scarf by Rory Hutton.
Through lino cutting his illustrations of gardening tools, green houses and watering cans, Rory managed to achieve a peaceful state of mind. Industriously using one’s hands to create something beautiful is a reward in itself, he said and something I share with these lady gardeners who inspired him. 

As an Irish accessory and print designer based in Glasgow and London, Rory finds inspiration in  history, art, architecture, theatre, opera and dance, lending classic themes a contemporary edge with his distinctive lino print illustrations and use of colour. 

Rory starts his creations as drawings, which are turned into linocuts and hand printed before being digitally composed and coloured. The designs are then sent to Lake Como in Italy where they are digitally printed on to the finest Italian silk.  His collections have included luxury scarves, ties, pocket squares, bow ties and also socks.  His prints have also been licensed by museums and galleries for use on a number of complementary products including tote bags, greetings cards, stationary, ceramics and even soap.

Rory Hutton's hand-rolled Ashurbanipal shawl,
140 x 140cm in Italian silk twill.
Rory has worked extensively with the British Museum,
creating collections for their blockbuster
exhibitions - Troy: Myth and Reality,
I Am Ashurbanipal and Rodin
and the Art of Ancient Greece. 

Rory is much sought after for collaborative work with some of the UK’s most prestigious arts, heritage and cultural organisations, including designing collections tied to blockbuster exhibitions staged at the British Museum, The Wallace Collection, Art Fund, Westminster Abbey, The Royal Ballet and The Royal Collection.   

The striking prints on the Ashurbanipal Shawl shown here were created to celebrate the British Museum's exhibition: I am Ashurbanipal, I am King of the World.

Illustrating traditional Assyrian motifs including Lamassu, a protective deity with the wings of a bird, body of a bull and a human head, the prints were developed from linocuts. 

Rory Hutton has a BA in Fashion Design and an MA in Design History.  He has been named runner-up in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards and was winner of the I-on Magazine Breakthrough Designer of the Year 2017.

Clarissa Hulse's Prairie cushion an English countryside scene
played out in warm orange hues accented by shadowy greys
and embroidered detailing in frost white.
All bed linen, cushions and throws are made from 100% cotton.

Separately, British textile designer Clarissa Hulse has also been inspired by nature and one particular gardener close to her heart.

She has just launched a brand-new collection inspired by the English countryside. Available as bed linen, cushions and matching throws, ‘Prairie’ comes in two colourways - orange and navy.

The new Prairie collection features an English countryside spreads across the fabric in intricate silhouettes of Wiltshire grasses wistfully criss-crossing with wild seed heads.

“The beauty of nature completely fascinates me – I draw most of my inspiration from the countryside.  Perhaps this enthusiasm stems from my childhood – my Greek mother was a keen gardener – she used to let me roam in flower beds while she was gardening and taught me the names of all the species.”

Clarissa Hulse's Prairie bed linen set is available in a classic navy accented with hues of soft blue as well as a deep orange accented with grey. Both are printed on soft, white cotton and finished off with a classic trim.
Packaged in eco-friendly, reusable cotton bags made from the bed linen reverse.

Born in Prague, Clarissa lived a nomadic childhood, spending time in Thailand, Spain, Italy and Greece. This eclectic background has had a huge influence on her approach to colour and design.

Clarissa’s designs are based on her nature photography, which is just as likely to originate from a tropical rainforest as it is to feature leaves from a local London park. Grasses, seed heads, ferns and trailing vines feature heavily in the modern, silhouetted designs, often printed onto natural fabrics such as silk and linen which have been dyed with a trademark ombre effect.

After graduating in textiles from Brighton Art College, Clarissa began to produce hand-printed scarves which became highly sought after on both sides of the Atlantic. This evolved into a line of home accessories, and over the course of fifteen years Clarissa has built the business to become one of the most respected textile brands in the UK.  From a small collection of silk cushions, the range now includes bed linen, lampshades, towels, ceramics, an array of gift items, and two multiple award-winning fabric and wallpaper collections produced in collaboration with Harlequin.