Patrick Astwood is a self-taught artist, who began his working life in a profession that couldn’t be farther from the artistic arts. He has launched his first assortment of interiors artwork and design, Gods & Monsters, impressed by a mix of historical mythology, mystical symbolism and heraldry.
His designs are on the similar time each daring and refined; they draw the attention nearer and nearer with vibrant and wealthy colourways and sophisticated patterns that fascinate, able to carry vibrant life to murals, wallpapers, materials, lampshades, rugs and standalone wall artwork. Every design is a grand assertion of Patrick’s bravura; his technical class and vivid creativeness. An creativeness that clearly wasn’t glad together with his authentic profession selection.
‘I labored as a civil servant, in London, for the Division of Commerce and Business,’ he says. ‘I began drawing and portray, experimenting with totally different disciplines, over a number of years whereas working for the DTI – artwork was the artistic escape I wanted.
Patrick began to put in writing and make brief movies, and in 2007 wrote and directed a characteristic movie, The Brink, which premiered at The Berlin Movie Pageant.
‘For fairly some time I used to be nonetheless working on the civil service whereas writing and producing and discovering funding for my very own impartial movies, however what got here out of that was the realisation I favored writing, however that I had a extremely robust sense of movie and what issues ought to seem like; I used to be very visually oriented.
The phrase “gods and monsters” comes from the 1935 movie, Bride of Frankenstein, when Dr Pretorius, the mad scientist who inspired Dr Frankenstein to renew his experiments, makes a toast “to the brand new world of gods and monsters”. It’s used to symbolise the duality of creation; the potential for each divine and monstrous outcomes. Whereas Patrick’s designs are removed from monstrous, there’s an power to every one which lifts them into an area of their very own.
‘I began entering into floor sample design two years in the past. I knew I needed to maintain experimenting and create a platform the place I may promote direct to the shopper. It was on the finish of 2024 I had my thought for Gods & Monsters. I actually favored the thought of doing one thing very visible, very daring. My strategy to design is influenced by movie, by cinema, and because of this lots of my work is sort of three dimensional; it’s designed to come back off the web page, off the floor, to be impactful.
‘My prospects are individuals who need “speaking level” décor. They typically say to me “I’ve a wall and I would like one thing that’s actually going to attract consideration, create a component of intrigue.” It’s geared in direction of creating a component of exercise inside the room. It’s not the type of factor that’s only a background, it’s visible theatre.’
Patrick’s work is offered as seen; he can create tweaked variations in various colourways; or create bespoke designs, together with full-wall murals taken from his artworks.
‘We have been residing in Bristol however needed to maneuver someplace new and got here as much as go to Manchester with my brother-in-law, who’s Mancunian and has a home in Sale. My spouse, Emma Foster, studied at Manchester College and all the time stated she’d like to revisit. We determined to maneuver north and visited plenty of potential locations, touring Lancashire, Yorkshire and as much as the North East, however Manchester and Sale simply ticked all of the bins. We stayed in Sale for a few months, and actually loved it, so determined to seek out our own residence right here.
‘There’s a vibrant design neighborhood right here, there’s quite a bit happening. It has all the excitement of an enormous metropolis, however not one of the stress and stress.
‘What’s introduced me to the place I’m now, as a visible artist, is the ability of diversification. It’s exhausting to construct a profession as an artist, however creating my artwork to be used throughout a large providing – from work to floor design to cushions and lampshades… it’s a method for me to achieve extra individuals, whereas nonetheless pursuing my artwork.’
patrickastwood.com
To have fun summer time Patrick has additionally launched a significant new assortment of wallpaper designs which can be found right here:
www.happywall.com/en/designers/patrick-astwood
