I grew up in a world of art. Our home was filled with hand-made objects. My mother painted and sculpted, a sketchbook always at hand, and her work filled the house. My father made the built-in furniture in our living room and his distinctive black glazed pottery sat in the kitchen. Furniture, and large ceramics by my brother, paintings and textiles by my sister and my own paintings and ceramics completed the picture.

A fifties style dining  table made by a friend of the family sat in the kitchen, and a constructivist work by another artist friend hung in the entry hall. My parent's friends were artists, poets and intellectuals. Twentieth century art books on the living  room coffee table were a constant source of inspiration.

The ideology and principles of the The British Arts and Craft Movement, and in particular, William Morris has always resonated with me. William Morris co-founded a design firm which profoundly influenced the decorative arts from 1861 into the early 20th century. The principles set forth that the firm would undertake carving, stained glass, cloth and paper-hangings, printed fabrics, carpets, furniture, murals, metal and glass wares, embroideries, jewellery and tapestries.