Hello, I’m Nicola.
I'm the founder of Madder Cutch & Co, an independent textile studio based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, where my love of drawing, pattern and colour comes together in a collection of printed linens inspired by nature.
Before establishing the studio in 2016, I spent many years teaching chemistry. My interest in textiles eventually led me to retrain in design, completing an MA in Sustainable Textile Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design.
That combination of scientific curiosity and creativity continues to shape the way I work today.
Every pattern begins by hand.
Much of my inspiration comes from observing the natural world, often the plants and flowers growing close to my studio.
From the delicate structure of a seedhead to the shapes of leaves and intertwining stems, these observations become hand-drawn illustrations, which I develop into flowing, repeating patterns.
Each design has its own character, created to bring a little of the natural world into our homes.
Printed linens for interiors.
My hand-drawn patterns are brought to life on linen, a fabric I love for its natural texture and versatility.
Designed with interiors in mind, the collection includes everything from delicate botanical patterns to bolder, more playful repeats. Perfect for curtains, blinds, cushions, lampshades and other decorative projects, whether used as a subtle detail or something that makes more of a statement.
Colour from nature.
My fascination with colour began with natural dyes. Drawing on my background in chemistry, I explored the colours that can be extracted from plants, working with traditional dye materials such as madder, woad, weld and cutch.
These experiments have helped me develop a distinctive palette of colours, from soft, subtle tones to deeper, earthier shades.
Today, these natural dye colours form the starting point for my printed linen collections, with each colour carefully matched to the shades originally developed from plants.
From the studio.
Hand screen-printing and natural dyeing remain an important part of my creative practice, and my original hand-printed fabrics continue to be available through the Studio Cloth collection.
I also run small workshops from my Stamford studio, sharing my knowledge of natural dyes and traditional printing techniques with others who enjoy exploring colour and making things by hand.
