Claire Murray Designs: Provence in June ahhh!

Claire Murray Designs: Provence in June ahhh!: A detail form the banner outside.. I had THE best time at the Discovering Designers event in Provence last weekend!  The Hotel de Galli...

Provence in June ahhh!

A detail form the banner outside..

I had THE best time at the Discovering Designers event in Provence last weekend!  The Hotel de Gallifet is such a beautiful setting in which to show your work - impossibly high ceilings (the devil to hang wallpaper from!), elegant cornicing, intricate ironwork, a delightful courtyard (well-used by the designers for al fresco dining in the evenings!) and plenty of sun!

The designers turned out to be the most delightful bunch of creatives I've had the pleasure to exhibit alongside, and the whole event, though hard work in many respects, had a great atmosphere and was a lot of fun.  

Samantha Mureau, our super talented organiser did a fantastic job and I'm already looking forward to doing it all again next year!

Here are some of my highlights...

The setting was elegant and very charming

Our generous host Nicholas

The courtyard

Gorgeous Portuguese designs from Aldeco

My wallpaper bunting and lovely prints by Baleine Rouge

Beth Lewis-Williams amazing lights

My stand! 

The very lovely Claire de Quenetain

My lampshade in the sun

Pared down furniture design byAlex

Two lovelies from Bluebell Gray 

My silk cushions

Loved meeting the Etoile team with their collection of prints

Myall cushion and byAlex chair

Napkiss

Jacqueline Siefert pattern design - lovely stuff!

My wallpapers looked lovely in the Provencal light

Heron 

So enjoyed being next-door to Cecile from Hermitage Studio

Can't resist an old French door!

Claire Murray Designs: Discovering New Designers Event, South of France 5...

Claire Murray Designs: Discovering New Designers Event, South of France 5...: Hotel de Gallifet, Aix-en-Provence If you've been following my blog for a while, you might remember a post I wrote last year, a...

Discovering New Designers Event, South of France 5-7 June

Hotel de Gallifet, Aix-en-Provence

If you've been following my blog for a while, you might remember a post I wrote last year, after visiting the British Embassy in Paris to exhibit at as Lifestyle & Heritage reception with other Yorkshire designers?  It was a great opportunity to show my work to the Paris market, get great feedback, and begin to think about selling my work outside of the UK.  

Even though I had only been "Claire Murray Designs" for a few short (but hectic!) months, it was a brilliant networking opportunity too, as the event was aimed at meeting Parisian buyers, and organised by the very helpful and encouraging people at UK Trade & Industry.  

Well, to cut a long story shortish, the visit has led to me being invited to France once again (how nice!).  This time, I'm going to be exhibiting my products at the very lovely manor house that is the Hotel de Gallifet in Aix-en-Provence.  The event is perfect for me as it is aimed at the boutique hotel and restaurant trade, based in the south of France.  I hope they go down well.

My flight is booked, accommodation sorted!  Just need to package up the products, iron my summer frocks, and hope that this little designer finally gets herself a little bit discovered!

Taking some of these...

...and these...

...not forgetting the wallpaper, and of course my sunnies!

Paintings and printmaking

I spend lots of time juggling my lovely family, teaching commitments, seeing friends and doing chores, with doing, making and creating.  Now and again, I still find time to paint, and here are some of my favourites (detailed prints and abstract paintings).

Detailed intaglio print 

Love doing collagraph prints!

Collagraph detail

Mixed media sample

Drawing - let's keep it alive please!

I love my life as an artist and designer.  I get inspired by all sorts of weird and wonderful things and just want to go on exploring ideas forever!  After travelling, walking, talking and looking, my sketchbooks are the place where I deposit all those nuggets of ideas, and some will make their way into a new design or a painting, print or drawing.  I've put some of those pages together for you to see part of the journey from ideas to realisation.  Drawings first - hope you like them!

Sketchbook covers

Recognise this one?

original ink drawings