Floral motifs, hearts and feathers took Celia Birtwell (1941-, British) into the limelight in the 1960s and 70s. Her feminine fabrics have earned her recognition as the most influential print textile designer of her era.
What’s she famous for?
Being David Hockney’s muse and the face that launched a thousand prints. She gained recognition when her then-husband Ossie Clarke used her designs in his fashion collections. Now her hand printed silk scarves, darling collection of greeting cards and collection for Topshop ensure a bit of Birtwell is within everyone's budget.
Get your hands on her fabrics (from £45 per metre) and wallpapers (£55 per roll) directly from her shop, Celia Birtwell, in Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill. For a piece of fashion history, a vintage Ossie Clark dress with Celia Birtwell print, like the one recently auctioned at The Cotswold Auction Company, will cost you in the region of £320.
Keep a lookout for...
Her prints have adorned the rooms of such celebrated establishments as Claridges and the Hilton Group, and are inspired by a classic romanticism and the wonder of the great outdoors.
