Story of Bulloch Fabric

The Bulloch Collection is my new range of digitally printed designs primarily for textiles. Each design is based on a land or seascape of the Isle of Bute, my childhood home, which sits just off the west coast of Scotland. The artwork is taken from original screen printed ink drawings by local artist and family friend, Lyn Bulloch.

I grew up on the Isle of Bute and in summer 2022 returned to live on the island. Lyn Bulloch was my school art teacher. He had attended Glasgow School of Art in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. It was there he developed his distinctly mid century style which he applied over his lifetime to depict the scenery of the island he loved. I share that love for the island’s beautiful scenery and coupled with my passion for everything mid century always found Lyn’s work inspirational and irresistible.

A light bulb moment came when reupholstering a customer’s armchair in a bold contemporary but mid century style print. It put me in mind of Lyn’s work and started me down the “ooh, what if…” path. Using photocopies of a couple of screen printed cards we had at home I began creating layouts on the living room floor. An approach to the Bulloch family for permission to use Lyn’s work was met with delight and so the design process began in earnest.

My Bulloch Collection textile designs feature repeats of the original ink sketches with swathes of vibrant colour. Some designs offer a never ending sea or sky with others depicting the images as tableaus, reminiscent of toile de jouy. Using both the original colours and introducing new colourways the textiles are evocative of vintage prints whilst being fresh and immediately appealing.

To date the Bulloch Collection has 3 designs:

‘Waverley’ (in original blue, pale grey, dark grey, navy & monochrome) – the iconic last seagoing paddle steamer in full steam on the Firth of Clyde.

‘Sleeping Warrior’ – a view of green rolling fields in the foreground with Arran’s ‘Sleeping Warrior’ range of blue hills on the horizon.

And the toile de jouy ‘Dunagoil & Shore Road’ – an ancient rocky cliff overlooking a bay in heathery purples and a residential road hugging the beach in pinks & reds.

The designs are printed on to a base cloth of 100% half panama organic cotton which is suitable for a range of interior soft furnishings as well as, of course, upholstery!

Keeping the island connection I have used Bute Fabric’s wools on the cushion backing and/or piping, and in many of my bespoke reupholstered pieces.

All Bulloch Collection products have been designed, ethically sourced and Made in Scotland and the North of England.

For more information about the Waverley paddle steamer please click here…