Gillian Arnold https://gillianarnold.com/ Botanical Britain | Picked, Pressed, Printed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:53:26 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://gillianarnold.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Gillian Arnold https://gillianarnold.com/ 32 32 185290988 The Roots of a Botanical Artist https://gillianarnold.com/the-roots-of-a-botanical-artist/ https://gillianarnold.com/the-roots-of-a-botanical-artist/#respond Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:25:51 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073963 The post The Roots of a Botanical Artist appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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It was international woman’s day earlier this week. A day where we take a moment to acknowledge the great women in our lives. The ones who helped form the women we are. Looking through social media and seeing the women who were being celebrated. It made me pause for thought.
 
As a female business founder, there are so many women that inspire me, so many! In art, in business, in my very identity as a woman.  I want to take this opportunity to share with you the women in my life that not only inspire me, but also shaped me.
 
When growing up in Northern Ireland in the 70s and 80s, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by great women. My wonderful mum Helen, my two aunties (Ruth & Pat) and my grandma who we all called Mama.
 
These women were matriarchs, the backbone of their households. When they weren't governing their home, they were together. They even worked side by side at the University of Ulster, as typists and library clerks. The through line that truly united them, was their love of plants.
 
Without their passion for gardening, the art I make might never have been. Growing up amongst a furtive green space, with the eager hands that tended to it, gave me a reverence for nature. Seeing the dedication behind each shrinking tomato plant or the growing oriental poppies.
 
Coffee at the kitchen table, where conversation always turned to something green. When to sow, what to sow. How to prevent root rot when it never stops raining. Auntie Ruth would often report back on the feathery visitors her garden received. Everything from your common blackbird to vivacious Goldfinches.
 
Mama was always being pestered for cuttings, her garden always being the strongest. Years of experience. That and knackered knees from decades of constant weeding. A strong Scottish las through and through.
 
So before art had even entered the picture, I was well-versed in my materials. Their gardens became the palette I learnt to paint from. And so, naturally, I had to include these women in my artwork as soon as I had the chance.
 
When I became inspired to create a design around allium plants, it felt right to use my auntie Pat's. It was a dream to incorporate some of the plants I had seen bloom year after year into a one of my designs. My Alliums design is a monochrome inky green piece. The flowering alliums explode onto the fabric in negative space.
 
This design holds added magic for me. Knowing that Pat's creation and mine are together, linking two generations of women. The very flowers that inspired me in my youth, became the focus of one of my best-selling designs. I am proud to say that my auntie Pat and her children enjoy this design in their homes. A symbol of my auntie's gardening prowess.
 
I aim to commemorate my auntie Ruth in a future design. It is really important to me that I pay homage to these women individually because of how unique they were. Unfortunately my auntie Ruth has passed away. Having cuttings from her garden keeps me connected to her. I hope that I can do them the same justice I did with Pat's alliums.
 
Sharing something that connected my family together with people. Knowing that those same plants will be in the background of many other childhoods and generational stories. They'll be the talking point at several different kitchen tables. I always want to make art that unites people in the way that nature always did for my family.
 
That is quite enough from me this week. I hope you had a lovely week. Maybe in telling you this story I've shown how as women, we are stronger together. There is so much potential for magic when we unite!
 
Gillian x

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/the-roots-of-a-botanical-artist/feed/ 0 1073963 Business & Motherhood: 9 Years on… https://gillianarnold.com/business-and-motherhood-9-years-on/ https://gillianarnold.com/business-and-motherhood-9-years-on/#respond Fri, 04 Mar 2022 15:13:30 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073610 The post Business & Motherhood: 9 Years on… appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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It was 9 years ago today. I went from fumbling through a pile of my designs, to laying exhausted in a hospital bed, holding a tiny boy in my arms. Nothing could have prepared me for the adventure of the last 9 years.
 
One of the pleasures that comes with starting a family in tandem with a business. I get to celebrate both on days like today. It’s my special boy Callum’s birthday today. Nine years! Where has the time gone?
 
9 years of sitting in piles of artwork. 9 years of tears, laughter, and tight, tight cuddles. Watching them grow, watching them reach new milestones. Having the honour of being there every day, to hold their hand.
 
It fills me with immense pride to have been the caretaker of both my business and my children. Days like today remind me of how far we have all come as a unit.
 
It is a healthy practice to remind yourself, how much potential you carry inside of you. Every passion or dream that you hold within is like seeds within a pod. When you finally sow your aspirations, they come alive in ways you could never have imagined.
 
Being a mother and a working artist were dreams I held within me for many years. Flourishing into both spaces simultaneously has been beyond challenging. I have found that, for businesses and children alike, in order to thrive, they both need similar things.
 
The first is consistency. You have to be there. A business, much like a child, needs constant nourishment and attention. Being attentive and engaged with all aspects of their development is vital in ensuring success.
 
The second is love. If what you’re doing is not a labour of love, then it is reduced to labour. Believe me, there are many tasks to be done as a parent or when owning a business. It is the tenderness that sweetens the strife.
 
Gap-toothed grins are the balm that sooths when the red-faced tantrums begin. Despite a business not actually being able to cry at you, (making you cry being rather easier) you must keep your memory green of the business’ peaks when you are wading deep through the mire of its troughs.
 
I know I am not alone in my experiences of these things. Looking on Tik Tok at small businesses (especially with this month being March meet the creator on social media) I have been introduced to so many businesses. Artists and mothers with the same passion that I have, starting out with just a stall or an online shop. 
 
They're business is just in its infancy. Their dreams have only just began to sprout. I hope in 9 years time that they too will be able to look back at where their business began with pride. 
 
Now that I've said my piece, I would like to leave you with this photo of my three all together for World Book day. Let me know if you can guess who they all went as!
 
 
Gillian x

 

 

 

 

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/business-and-motherhood-9-years-on/feed/ 0 1073610 Half-Term Mayhem https://gillianarnold.com/half-term-mayhem/ https://gillianarnold.com/half-term-mayhem/#respond Fri, 25 Feb 2022 15:41:45 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073396 The post Half-Term Mayhem appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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Well, it’s been a cold and blustery couple of weeks thanks to Storm Eunice.  As a working mum, I’ve found myself kid-locked during this half-term.

Three Children. Add in miserable weather. Not exactly conducive to running a business. However, I have a fabulous team behind me and buckets of gumption to get me through. Oh and Tim. I suppose he does help a bit.

That said, I have enjoyed some wonderful mother daughter time this week! My Evoline and I spent Wednesday afternoon of this week enraptured in some fun with plaster. I introduced my little one to the magical art of flower plaster casts.

We had spent the morning collecting snowdrops in Auckland Park, enjoying the bright heatless sun. Callum attempted to pick some accompanying leaves but ended up grappling with a nettle. Cue me wading through grass looking for a dock leaf as my child wails loudly to passers-by.

Dock leaf found, the troops and I all trudge back to camp Arnold to finally put the mornings findings to good use. Each of us had our own pancake of clay to use and the assortment of flowers and leaves where dumped ever so ceremoniously in the middle of the table.

We began to press the tightly sealed buds and fly-away petals and of course the freshly picked bunch that we had acquired earlier on. Evoline more than anyone was so engaged with the process. She laid her flowers, changing the pattern a few times, her little head tilted in concentration. She would have the flowers all arranged perfectly, stand back to view her creation, before shaking her head and starting over.

When, at long last the flowers were all in their places, she was contented as she started rolling them flat. Callum on the other hand was sickened off by plants after this morning’s sting and had resorted to putting grass in Iona’s hair and telling her there were spiders in it. How lovely!

He was much more excited however, when it came to pouring the plaster over their creations. Though Evoline poured hers gently, not spilling a drop, plaster did end up sloshing everywhere.  I’m so relieved that I had the maternal foresight to put newspaper down before getting started.

After succeeding in making a complete mess, we went upstairs to get hosed down while our artwork dried. I hope you enjoy these photos of our little family workshop. Time like this is so invaluable. For all the mishaps and mess, I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

 

Gillian

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/half-term-mayhem/feed/ 0 1073396 Wonderful Workshops https://gillianarnold.com/wonderful-workshops/ https://gillianarnold.com/wonderful-workshops/#respond Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:58:55 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073218 The post Wonderful Workshops appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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Try your hand at a whole host of Workshops. Learning the process from yours truly, a professional artist with over 10 years’ experience in lampshade making and a lifetimes experience in pattern design. As well as lampshades, cushions, and mugs, I have started a range of new creative workshops.

Introducing traditional crafts such as Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending seams of broken pottery with an opulent gold paste. I am also expanding my existing Print Your own Design workshop to include tote bags as well as cushions, so now you can wear your beautiful art out and about.

In light of the ever-present climate crisis, I have also launched the innovative workshop, the Pleated lampshade experience. As with all our lampshade workshops, the resources used are recycled materials otherwise unused. These new pleated designs allow us to use up smaller sections of pvc than usual. You create a beautiful bespoke shade, while being sustainable.

It’s this kind of harmony I want to establish with my art. I believe it is important for all workshops to be as environmentally conscious as possible. With nature as my inspiration, it is paramount that my business does its part in protecting it.

I’ve truly loved doing all these workshops over the past few months. Encouraging others to become creative in a new skill is a joy that 10 years’ experience can afford me. I hope to see more and more new faces as I host workshops at both my Darlington and Bishop Auckland Shops.

Please go to GillianArnold.com to book yourself tickets!

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/wonderful-workshops/feed/ 0 1073218 Valentines Day: Gifts that make Love Bloom! https://gillianarnold.com/valentines-day-gifts-that-make-love-bloom/ https://gillianarnold.com/valentines-day-gifts-that-make-love-bloom/#respond Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:42:45 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073038 The post Valentines Day: Gifts that make Love Bloom! appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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Hello lovely people! It’s that time of year where love is in the air once again. Whether you are spending it with your partner, a close friend, or an emotional support animal, I hope you have a wonderful day.

 

And to help that day be extra special, I thought I’d dedicate this week’s blog to showing off some products that would channel the romance of this day.  We’ve all done the chocolates and flowers routine in past years, so isn’t it time to consider a gift with a difference?

Nothing says I love you like the makings of a home, so why not gift your special someone?

 

Aqua Magna Floor Lamp

The Aquatic dream: Aqua Magna is a print that embodies the vibrancy of the Great Barrier Reef, while providing a distinguished elegance. This Floor Lamp adds botanical flare to any gloomy corner.

Blue Wreath

So, as it is the season of love, why not embrace the gorgeous iconography? Blue Wreath is romantic shade, midnight blue embellishes with a cheeky coral coloured floral. What makes this design really pop is the way in which the petals mimic love heart shapes, like love on the vine.

Love Bulb

Now this love bulb is a recent addition to our page and has been gaining a lot of traction of late.  The elegant script filament is so romantic, it’s made to add an affectionate glow to your Valentine’s Day.

Coasters

It’s the little things that count! Coasters may not be as big as statement chairs or floor lamps, but they are just as colourful. Not all gifts have to be physically sizable to have an impact, especially when its décor. Little pops of colour around the home, bringing a smile whenever you go to place your mug.

I hope these suggestions have helped your search for the perfect Valentines Day Gift!

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/valentines-day-gifts-that-make-love-bloom/feed/ 0 1073038 Meet The Apprentices https://gillianarnold.com/meet-the-apprentices/ https://gillianarnold.com/meet-the-apprentices/#respond Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:37:50 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1073074 The post Meet The Apprentices appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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Meet the Gillian Arnold apprentices!

I believe that giving opportunities to young people in the community is essential to any thriving business.  Being a business based in the Northeast of England means that we can provide creative opportunities for local people, in times when such opportunities can be hard to come by.

With it being Apprenticeship week I wanted to make a post celebrating these individuals. I choose to include several apprentices on my Gillian Arnold team. With opportunities in production, admin, social media, and warehousing. The apprentices at Gillian Arnold came here to grow and we intend to grow with them.

With that said, I would like to let my team speak for themselves. Sharing with you the wonderful members of our cohort, learning and working in the G A team:

Hi, I’m Nina! I’m 16 years old and I’m a junior Content Producer with Gillian Arnold. My job includes preparing social media posts, constructing the newsletter, and writing descriptions for Gillian’s many beautiful products. My favourite thing about working at Gillian Arnold is how inspiring it is, watching the way Gillian works and seeing all the artwork. It always fills me with inspiration and creative zeal.  While not at work I love to Cosplay, becoming another person entirely when I get into costume!

Hi, my name is Carla! I’m 17 years old and I am completing a Production and Manufacturing apprenticeship with Gillian Arnold. My job includes making all these botanical designs into products used in the real world. Through making so many vibrant floor lamps and lampshades my job is probably the most colourful. My favourite part about working here is that the people are all so nice, they make any day amazing. When not creating products, I love to dance and have a game of football from time to time.

 Hello, my name is Aaron and I’m 24 years old. I’m the despatch apprentice here at Gillian Arnold. My job includes making sure orders are shipped out as quickly as possible, making sure we have enough stock to make everything and pairing up orders. My favourite thing about Gillian Arnold is my colleagues, they are all so friendly and we can always have a laugh. When outside of work I really enjoy watching movies, my favourite one is Too Fast, Too Furious.

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/meet-the-apprentices/feed/ 0 1073074 Botanical Lights of Post House Wynd https://gillianarnold.com/botanical-lights-of-post-house-wynd/ https://gillianarnold.com/botanical-lights-of-post-house-wynd/#respond Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:54:03 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=1072879 The post Botanical Lights of Post House Wynd appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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Botanical Lights of Post House Wynd

 

Exciting things are happening at Gillian Arnold! With the celebration of Chinese New Year this week, Gillian Arnold was offered the wonderful opportunity of taking part in the ‘Darlington Lights’ display. with our own: 'The Botanical Lights of Post House Wynd'.

Along with a few other Darlington based businesses and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Gillian Arnold was invited to collaborate with Darlington Borough Council to light up the local area in time for Chinese New Year.

Spectacular neon light art and handmade traditional lanterns were a few of the ways that others helped to bring light and love to hidden corners of Darlington town centre. As lanterns are displayed during this time to symbolise a momentous joyful occasion we decided we needed to go bigger...

It was our task to bring Chinese New Year splendour to the little street we reside on, our historical Post House Wynd. So to do so, we went for huge: Jumbo actually. We produced twenty-four big and beautiful shades in various Gillian Arnold designs to decorate our street. Jumbo is a size rarely selected but to make our art visible from down below we utilised their size.

Now they are up and looking fabulous! Having my flowers pressed, printed and then displayed for public enjoyment has been an amazing experience for me and I've loved the response so far on social media. I hope they bring joy to many who come to view them and visit the famous market. We are thrilled to have been part of this and look forward to future collaborative projects. It is great to see my work take on new dimensions and impact our wee street.

If you happen to visit, please tag us in the photo as we appreciate and prize your feedback.

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/botanical-lights-of-post-house-wynd/feed/ 0 1072879 The Perfect Wedding Presents https://gillianarnold.com/the-perfect-wedding-presents/ https://gillianarnold.com/the-perfect-wedding-presents/#respond Tue, 24 Jul 2018 14:22:55 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=15579 The post The Perfect Wedding Presents appeared first on Gillian Arnold.

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The Perfect Wedding Presents

At Gillian Arnold, we know that weddings are the place when you want to excel in the present department. You want to get them the best present and give them something special that they will treasure forever.

Our personalised Mr and Mrs deckchairs are the perfect gift for people who just love their garden. This way they can enjoy being a couple and cherish their lives together at home with a special gift.

The Mr and Mrs mugs are a very cutesy way to add a special gift to a couple's kitchen. They will be loved and used each day, meaning that your gift will add warmth to someone's life.

We also have other little gifts such as coasters and hot water bottle covers that are sure to bring joy to those who receive them.

We hope you love our gifts as much as we do.

Thanks for reading!

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/the-perfect-wedding-presents/feed/ 0 15579 Products that match Cosy, Warm Interiors https://gillianarnold.com/products-that-match-cosy-warm-interiors-gillian-arnold/ https://gillianarnold.com/products-that-match-cosy-warm-interiors-gillian-arnold/#respond Mon, 23 Jul 2018 09:30:38 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=14299 Warm Interiors and how our products match this style Our products at Gillian Arnold are designed with you in mind so whether you are into monochrome or warm tones, we have products that will boost your home with botanical inspiration to bring the outdoors, in. Here at Gillian Arnold, we love the autumnal vibes (kicking […]

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Warm Interiors and how our products match this style

Our products at Gillian Arnold are designed with you in mind so whether you are into monochrome or warm tones, we have products that will boost your home with botanical inspiration to bring the outdoors, in.

Here at Gillian Arnold, we love the autumnal vibes (kicking crisp leaves around) and the warm tones in a home. We have many designs that will fulfil your cosy needs. The ‘Strawberry Fern’ design is definitely a favourite of ours, as the bright fuchsia and the mint green colours look beautiful against any old sofa.

Don’t change the sofa, change the cushions.

Our autumnal loving is shown clearly on our ‘Autumn Flurry’ design, which we think looks best as a wallpaper – drawing the attention of your visitors straight to the wall. It truly is magnificent.

If you love the deeper tones, ‘Tropical Wine’ will most likely be your kind of thing. As seen in the mood board, it looks beautiful against light features, so it really comes to life. We love this rich pattern and all of our customers which have bought this pattern, love it too.

The warm doesn’t stop there. If you really want that cosy ambient, the ‘Summer Tropics’ in our floor lamp is just outstanding. The beautiful yellow colourful design instantly boosts your mood! Through day or night, you would not regret putting this design into your home.

We also have the ‘Tropical Dusk’ design which is for people who like the warm tones, but may want a more muted pattern to put into their home. The brown tones and mixture of warm colours that run through the floral design, add a touch of natural warmth to any room in the house. Making sure to create a cosy, inviting vibe.

Our mood boards have been designed to support different interior styles, so you can view which products match up best to your style and home.

Every design and product you see in our mood boards are available to order now on the website. See any other design you want to custom create on a product? Email us to see what we can do:

mail@gillianarnold.com

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]]> https://gillianarnold.com/products-that-match-cosy-warm-interiors-gillian-arnold/feed/ 0 14299 Contemporary Colourful Interiors https://gillianarnold.com/contemporary-colourful-interiors/ https://gillianarnold.com/contemporary-colourful-interiors/#respond Mon, 23 Jul 2018 09:00:54 +0000 https://gillianarnold.com/?p=14295 Contemporary interiors and which of our products match the style Our products at Gillian Arnold are designed with you in mind so whether you are into contemporary, tropical designs or a simple interior, we have products that will boost your home with botanical inspiration to bring the outdoors, in. Our contemporary mood board reflects every […]

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Contemporary interiors and which of our products match the style

Our products at Gillian Arnold are designed with you in mind so whether you are into contemporary, tropical designs or a simple interior, we have products that will boost your home with botanical inspiration to bring the outdoors, in.

Our contemporary mood board reflects every bold, vibrant person who loves colour. We have designs that will turn your home into the lively, stimulating home that shows your personality. We have a wide range of yellow, blue, pinks, purples, you name it.

Our ‘Summer Tropical’ and the ‘Tropical Sunshine’ designs are probably going to be your favourite – they have everything. We adore the bright yellow and fun that flows through the floral and wild design. Many of our customers are inspired by these pieces as it has an uplifting, energetic feel. This design on any product is sure to boost any home and anyone’s mood.

The ‘Branching Astrantia’ design is for those who love colour but a bit more muted. We think the mint/light blue in this really stands out against white and it makes the perfect lampshade or cushion! The pretty purples and orange tones give the blues a warmer feel; we just adore this one.

If you have never been the colourful kind and looking to try something new, we have a brilliant amount of designs to help you choose from.

The ‘Indigo Tropical’ is our most popular design, and there’s no need to ask us why. We sell this to people of all personalities because we feel the design itself reflects all different styles, because it has the indigo and brighter colours, it can fit nicely into anyone’s interior at home. We also have this in the ‘Animal Surprise’ if you want to put some real life into the patterns.

Our mood boards have been designed to support different interior styles, so you can view which products match up best to your style and home.

Every design and product you see in our mood boards are available to order now on the website. See any other design you want to custom create on a product? Email us to see what we can do:

mail@gillianarnold.com

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