My journey designing Witch and Watchman’s whimsical and eccentric wallpapers began in London, England. I had studied Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins, specialising in painting. After graduation, I worked as a graphic designer then a full-time artist, however neither of these seemed to be the perfect fit. In 2014 I was struck by the idea that I should re-appropriate my painting skills to create intricately off-beat wallpaper designs. I went down the rabbit hole of the eccentric and created Witch and Watchman's first hand-painted wallpaper and fabric design – Amazonia.
As a former Fine Artist turned wallpaper and fabric designer, I combine traditional hand painting with modern technologies. Each quirky wallpaper motif is hand-painted by myself in oil on canvas, then digitally scanned and edited to form a seamless pattern. The files are then sent to a specialised printer in the UK, with a long history in printing the highest quality luxury wallpapers and fabrics.
My work draws from many inspirations, such as Old Hollywood, fairy tales and Film Noir. Specific examples being, Miss Havisham’s house from Great Expectations, the Addams Family home, and old overgrown Hollywood mansions like Gloria Swanson’s house in the film Sunset Boulevard. My great desire is to bring fine art into everyday life, not limited to a frame, but patterning the walls, upholstering furniture, and turning a space into a personal eccentric gallery.
Helen Wilson
Founder
Born and Raised
Southwest Scotland
I was born in the Scottish countryside during the worst snow storm Scotland had to date. My parents have a small yet picturesque farm where I could roam far and wide. This is where I developed my love of fauna and flora.
Education
Edinburgh, Scotland
I attended an all girls boarding school in Edinburgh, it was here I became certain that I wanted a creative career. I spent all my time in the Art Department painting and making birthday cards from old Vogue Magazines.
University
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London
After originally wanting to study Fashion, I changed my mind and went on to receive my BA in Fine Arts, specialising in painting, from Central Saint Martins.
Working Life
London, United Kingdom
After graduating College, I continued to live in London working as a graphic designer. I moved on to become an artist before founding Witch and Watchman in 2014 out of my warehouse apartment on the Regents Canal in East London.
Current Life
Elysian Valley, Los Angeles
In 2017 I moved to Los Angeles, CA where I currently live with my husband and two year old daughter Wednesday. My husband and I share a studio in an industrial arts complex, in the Elysian Valley in North East Los Angeles.