Canvas & Clay | Biddy Picard

This year we're celebrating colour and contrast, inspired by the artists who called Cornwall home. In our latest collection, Artists’ Light, refined silhouettes are the canvas for saturated pastels and refreshing tones. The edit captures a sense of unbound artistic creativity, inspired by the way Cornish artists used light and landscape as a muse. 

Elements of the prints and palette are particularly influenced by the life and work of Slade-trained artist Biddy Picard. She moved to Lamorna in the late 1940s, and then to Mousehole in the 50s where she captured West Cornwall's harbour villages and creative communities through her own unique lens. Offering a window into the pace of life at the time, Biddy’s work is charming and simple. 

“We wanted to channel the lightness of her work,” says Kathryn, head of our print team. “A few of the patterns in this collection were originally sketched with oil pastels, which was in homage to the buttery or chalky textures you often see in Biddy’s still life drawings.” 

The Lamorna Dress in Table Sketch (coming soon), and the Morgana Knitted Vest.

Biddy's techniques also inspired us to play with perspective. Her work has a slightly flattened feel, allowing the foreground and background to play equal parts in the story of the image. On fabric, this approach has an interesting effect.  

“By keeping the prints almost one dimensional, you let the movement of the fabric add its own depth. Biddy worked with her medium to get the most from each piece - we’ve adopted the same technique to craft a gallery of prints that come to life when worn,” says Kathryn. 

The Tern Tide Cardigan in Mandarin over the Bridget Midi Tea Dress

Beyond the canvas, Biddy Picard had a love for working with clay. She set up a small pottery with her husband at their granite fisherman’s cottage in one of the narrow streets close to Mousehole harbour. The pair had been encouraged to take up the artform by family friend and potter, Bernard Leach. The small pottery soon became a small craft shop, one of the first in Cornwall to sell locally made, quality artisan goods. Photos captured of Biddy during this time give us an insight into her own personal style.  

“Biddy’s own wardrobe really caught our attention,” says Jessica, one of our womenswear designers. “The cuts are loose; the fabrics are tough. There’s a clear balance of function, form and aesthetic appeal.” You can see this influence come through in our utility pieces, from casual shapes to practical details. 
 

The Reading Rocks Denim Jacket and Painted Forms Barrel Leg Trousers. In the studio: Carnon Downs Cotton Jacket, worn over the Hope Cottage Embroidered Blouse. 

When looking at form and silhouette, Jessica wanted to translate the simple shapes and lines of Biddy Picard's artwork into the collection. “We were really inspired by the smaller details you find in her oil paintings; the stripe of a tablecloth, the details of a vase, the slightly asymmetrical shape created by her use of perspective.”  

In the studio, these features were interpreted into sketchbooks in the form of yarn-dyed stripes, architectural silhouettes and longer hemlines. Just like Biddy’s work, the individual elements are simple, but the final composition leaves a lasting impression. This collection is an invitation to craft your own style story and reconnect with the creative every day. 

The Sleeveless Brouse Dress in the Trystan Check. 

You can shop our latest collection, Artists’ Light, in shops or online now.  
 
A special thank you to Peter Perry and Jane Rowe, Biddy Picard’s son and daughter, who provided permission to use the above artworks alongside some heartfelt and personal insight into Picard’s life. Peter Perry is an artist in his own right, you can find his work at PeterPerry.com