SOPHIE ROBINSONS CHRISTMAS COLOUR COLLECTION

The holiday season is once again upon us!

Throughout this year, the ideas surrounding art and wellness have permeated our thought processes. And, as we move towards Christmas, the focus on creating a personal sanctuary at home seems more important than ever.

Art is more than just a purchase, it’s your personality in material form; the type of emotional nourishment that we as humans seek, especially in times of discomfort. As we find new ways to celebrate this winter, we’re bringing you something that will always brighten up your space and day: COLOUR!

Leading the way in the colour revolution is designer, TV presenter, podcast host and interiors expert, Sophie Robinson. With a mission to “give you the confidence and inspire you to have a vibrant, fascinating and original home which reflects who you are”, Sophie is the undisputed queen of colour, whose distinctive and alluring style can turn anything from drab to fab!

We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with Sophie, a tour de force in the Interior Design industry, who has chosen some of her top picks from our Online Marketplace. Read on for insight into her love of maximalist design and composition, alongside the artworks that called out to her, and once you’re completely inspired, be sure to shop our Christmas Colour Collection…

Sophie Robinson’s Christmas Colour Collection

JOANNA WRIGHT, MARGUERITES

Sophie Robinson “I’m a sucker for a simple still life and find myself collecting studies of flowers. I loved the simplicity and stillness of this painting along with the colour palette and patterns. It will be right at home in my country interior jostling against all the other florals I fill my home with.”

Joanna’s work is the perfect example of pattern and colour, no wonder it caught Sophie’s eye! Her silkscreen prints are handmade, and often one-off originals. This work now lives in Sophie’s growing collection and we couldn’t be happier that it’s found such a lovely and deserving home.

But the good news is we have plenty of other works by Joanna on our online marketplace, click here to browse more stunning still life paintings.

ANNE STORNO, THE SECRET WOMAN

SR: “I’m often drawn to a piece of artwork based on my gut reaction to the colour and these saturated hues are pure heaven to me. I also love the playful nod to glamour that reminds me of the wonderful Cecil Beaton’s fashion photography.”

Anne likes to combine images, removing them from their original context and reconfiguring them to create a new fantastical scene. In her most recent series of surrealist works, she invites the viewer to enter her magical world where anything is possible.

Follow the link to view The Secret Woman, or click here to view more of Anne’s wonderful work.

DAN JAMIESON, HOCKNEY BREATHER

SR: “Hockney is one of my favourite artists for his use of colour and he is instantly recognisable in this portrait. The palette and mark making are perfection and they really capture the spirit of this great artist for me. It’s also a really cool interior setting.”

Dan Jamieson is a London-based artist, who creates contemporary portraits of cultural icons that peel back the layers of celebrity to reveal humorous observations of their character.

Dan’s artistic style adopts a blend of naivety, accuracy, repetitive patterns and frenetic mark making. Hockney Breather is the perfect example of Dan’s work, which also captures Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Basquiat and more.

Click here to view the full range.

CHARLOTTE FARMER, I GOT YOU BABE

SR: “I love printmaking as a medium as it’s so graphic and immediate. This piece is particularly playful and vibrant, and I especially love the humorous kitsch element. The pop of neon pink and metallic gold would be a great accent to any colour scheme.”

Charlotte Farmer’s I Got You Babe, is the perfect example of the screen printer’s work – all of which clearly show her love of colour and fine detail. Featuring illustrations of matchboxes, tea caddies and snuff bottles, Charlotte’s work conjures a sense of nostalgia and memory with a cheeky pop of colour. The collections bring together unexpected combinations of objects and characters that speak to each other, developing unforeseen ‘mini’ narratives in the work – after all, who is’t wondering what the lion and the unicorn are really saying to each other?

Click here to see more of Charlotte’s prints.

JOHANNA GOODMAN, PLATE NO. 306

SR: “I used to love the art of collage as a kid and so this feels really nostalgic to me. I particularly loved Johanna’s collages of political figures, but I picked this one for me as it’s like my ultimate outfit, excessive and flamboyant! This would look at home in any maximalist interior.”

Based in New York, American illustrator and collagist Johanna Goodman studied at Boston University’s School of Fine Art and Parsons School of Design (NYC). Her artwork, like Plate No. 306, developed from over twenty years of portraiture and collage work, exploring popular culture and the role of the individual in fashion, alongside the historical and political contexts of the current day.

We love Charlotte’s imaginative and hard-hitting works which draw from realism, surrealism and symbolism. Perfect for your interiorism! Click here for more.

TIM FOWLER, SOPHIA LOREN

SR: “This artists’ work had me swooning! Wonderful rich contemporary colour palette and a really free and immediate way of capturing a portrait that is instantly recognisable. Sometimes in an interior space you just want one eye catching piece of art that creates a bold statement. This would be perfect.”

Tim Fowler graduated in Contemporary Fine Art from Sheffield Hallam University in 2007. He began his career painting architectural structures, before turning to portraiture and, most recently, abstract works. An architectural influence is still clear in Tim’s work, which has a sense of deconstruction in the angular shapes of the portrait.

With Sophia Loren,and indeed all of Tim’s paintings, the artist transforms each subject into a celebration of colour with a side portion of contemplation.

FREA BUCKLER, CLOUDS 2

SR: “Sometimes I am attracted to a piece of art for the sheer colour joy! This painting sits perfectly within my palette, I could design a whole scheme with this being the jumping off point. I also love the way the colours dance and move with one another.”

Frea Buckler applies a process-led methodology to sculpture, installation and original screen-printed drawings. Fascinated by the interplay between the conscious and subconscious, Frea’s intuitive works are filled with dynamic geometry and deeply saturated colours.

Get a closer look at Clouds 2 here, or to peruse more of Frea’s works, click here.

YOSSI BEN ABU, UNEVEN E-ABSTRACT SCULPTURE

SR: “This piece is strangely hypnotic and, even though my own interior design can be quite floral and chintzy, I’d love to hang something like this in my home to cut through all the pattern. Art should be arresting and a joy to look at and I find the precision and geometry in this piece mesmerising.”

Yossi Ben Abu’s background in architecture and design is immediately evident in his innovative and poetic work, such as Uneven E. By using everyday materials (such as paper in this case) his geometrical designs elevate the artworks. The squares, pyramids, and boxes are fascinating to behold and strangely organic.

View the full range of Yossi’s work here.

Huge thanks to Sophie and her colourful eye and for appreciating the wonderful work brought to you by our Affordable Art Fair galleries. The longevity of art is immeasurable so why not create a colourful new tradition this year by finding something absolutely fantastic from our Online Marketplace for your friends, family or even yourself. Shop our Christmas Colour Collection, inspired by the lovely Sophie, and bring a positive pop into your interior.

Main Image:
Interior designer, presenter, podcaster and colour fan, Sophie Robinson.

Featured art from first to last:
Portrait of Sophie Robinson, photography credit: Alun Callender.

Joanna Wright, Marguerites, gifted to Sophie Robinson.

Anne Storno, The Secret Woman, 2017, silkscreen print, edition of 30, £160, ContemporArti.

Dan Jamieson, Hockney Breather, 2018, acrylic, limited edition of 10, £400, BROTHart.

Charlotte Farmer, I Got You Babe, 2017, silkscreen print, limited edition of 50, £75, Smithson Gallery.

Johanna Goodman Plate No. 306, 2019, giclee, limited edition of 50, £222, Crane Kalman Brighton.

Tim Fowler, Sophia Loren, 2020, mixed-media, original, £4500, StudionAme.

Frea Buckler, Clouds 2, 2020, silkscreen print, original, £650, Smithson Gallery.

Yossi Ben Abu, Uneven E – abstract sculpture, 2019, paper, original, £2350, Contempop Gallery.