Marthe Armitage artist and patternmaker

Marthe Armitage, artist and patternmaker

July 2024

A legacy in pattern-making

Marthe Armitage, an esteemed artist and patternmaker, has a successful business selling her hand-blocked wallpapers and fabrics, which she developed over the years she has lived in Chiswick.

She has been deeply rooted in Strand on the Green since childhood. This picturesque area by the river has been her lifelong home, except for brief periods during wartime evacuation, boarding school, and a few years in India.

The river, with its tides, boats, and birdlife, has been a constant source of inspiration for Marthe, influencing her designs that often feature plants, birds, and animals.

Marthe’s artistic journey began modestly. Leaving school with just a certificate and vague artistic inclinations, she was encouraged by a neighbour to pursue her passion at Chelsea School of Art.

Despite feeling she was less talented than her peers, she found her niche in pattern making. Her first designs were for her own home, evolving into a small business. Inspired by William Morris and CFA Voysey, Marthe developed her unique style using linoleum for block printing, a method she continues to use.

Marthe’s work gained recognition slowly, in part due to her self-doubt and the fluctuating fashion trends in interior design. A turning point came in 2004 when Hamilton Weston showcased her wallpapers, leading to a feature in World of Interiors.

Today, her wallpapers are sold through Hamilton Weston, while her fabrics are handled by her own company. In 2019, she began offering digitally printed wallpapers with bespoke colour options.

She published her book The Making of Marthe Armitage Artist and Patternmaker in 2019 and discussed it at the Chiswick Book Festival that year. It showcases her work with stunning photographs of her patterns and her studio in her old family house in Strand on the Green.

A respected member of the Art Workers Guild and a devout Christian, Marthe’s contributions to art extend beyond her patterns. Her designs adorn various public spaces, including Christ Church on Turnham Green and the Chiswick Timeline mural.