Little is known about Lydia Penrose, a skilled botanical artist from the early 19th century, whose private works were donated to the RHS Lindley Collections by her great-grand niece Winifred Penrose Foster in 1957. Her paintings of Devonshire wild flowers, including honeysuckle and dog roses, and sprigs of blue and purple shrubs have been combined in a sweeping floral arrangement.
RHS fabric collaboration
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RHS 2022
In partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
Sofas & Stuff have created an enchanting fabric collection in partnership with the RHS, inspired by the archives of the RHS Lindley Collections, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of botanical drawings, paintings, and literature.
The collection draws from a broad span of the RHS archive, taking inspiration from botanical artists and garden designers from 17th through to the 20th centuries. The result is elegant and intimate; the designs are beautifully varied, yet strongly complementary to each other. Geometric knot garden designs from the 1600s sit alongside exquisite botanical drawings and floral sketches. The collection is grounded in soft, natural tones, with rich pops of colour from the featured illustrated fruits and flowers, that will work across a wide range of interior design styles.
William Hooker
Printed in Lancashire on a cotton linen mix.
A selection of William Hooker’s paintings of fruits and flowers feature in this naturalistic and graceful design. In 1815 the Horticultural Society of London, which later became the RHS, appointed Hooker as their official artist, for whom he created over 150 paintings. He was particularly adept at depicting greenery, especially ‘pome’ fruits like apples, pears, and quince. His fruit drawings, known as Hooker’s Fruits are recognised as among the greatest fruit drawings of all time.
Lilian Snelling
Printed in Lancashire on 100% linen.
Considered one of the greatest 20th century British botanical artists, Lilian Snelling studied at the Royal College of Art, London, and went on to become the botanical artist at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. She was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour, the RHS’s highest award, in 1955, a year after receiving an MBE. A selection of her watercolour paintings and pencil sketches of bulbs and flowers have been collated from the RHS Lindley Collections and artfully composed in a gently flowing design.
If you want your home to feel calm, what better way than to bring nature in and onto your sofa.
Andrew Cussins
Gertrude Jekyll
Printed in Lancashire on a cotton linen mix.
Gertrude Jekyll, artist, writer and one of the most influential 20th century garden designers, renowned for her soft, informal style and her collaborative partnership with Arts and Crafts architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, is celebrated in this fresh and timelessly romantic design. An enchanting original sketch of a floral and leafy spray by Jekyll is reproduced and repeated, creating a free flowing, tumbling design across the fabric. Presented in six colour ways.
The first purpose of a garden is to be a place of quiet beauty such as will give delight to the eye and repose and refreshment to the mind.
Gertrude Jekyll
Large Knot Garden
Printed in Lancashire on 100% linen.
The structure and symmetry of a large Tudor knot garden is reflected in this garden plan sourced from ‘The orchard and the garden’, printed by Adam Islip in London in 1602, and held in the archive of the RHS Lindley Collections. Positioned close to the house, these gardens were designed to be viewed from an upstairs window, the different coloured box planted in criss-crossing patterns imitating lines of stitching in embroidered textiles, tapestries or carpets, creating a link between the garden and the interior. Depicted in six nature-inspired tones and presented on a soft, neutral ground.
In-store exclusive fabric, visit your local showroom to find out more
Small Knot Garden
Printed in Lancashire on a cotton mix.
This elegant knot garden design is taken from an engraved bedding plan by Leonard Meager from ‘The English gardner’, published in London by M. Wotton and G. Conyers in 1688. The design is rooted in a soft, neutral ground and presented in six nature-inspired tones ranging from inky blue through a palette of soft greens through to warm ochre and brown.
In-store exclusive fabric, visit your local showroom to find out more
® The Royal Horticultural Society. Trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262)
used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited.
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