Sheridan Life

Meet the Maker: Withers

Nature is a constant source of inspiration for our design team, and this season the Australian landscape takes a dramatic turn in our Withers print. Today, we're chatting with our in-house textile designer Flavia to find out what it takes to bring an original print to life. From finding inspiration at her local parkland, to bringing this hand-painted artwork into your home.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the Withers print? Is there a particular place or memory that sparked this artwork?

“I was really inspired by the way sunlight moves through a canopy of leaves, particularly those fleeting moments when light scatters across the ground, creating patterns of shadow and glow. I tried to capture the soft, organic rhythm of nature — branches swaying in the breeze, layered foliage overlapping in silhouettes, and sunlight dissolving into dappled fragments.

The primary inspiration for the design came from Whites Creek Valley Park, a parkland and wetland area in Sydney’s Inner West where I often walk my dog. Spending time there made me increasingly aware of the small, transient details within the landscape — the way light filters through dense foliage and shifts constantly throughout the day. These walks became a source of quiet observation, influencing the peaceful and immersive quality of the print.

Rather than depicting a literal landscape, I wanted the design to evoke the feeling of being immersed in a bushland setting. To me, it feels like that moment when your senses become attuned to subtle movement and light. The interplay between transparency, shadow, and texture reflects the ephemeral beauty of these moments — never fixed, always changing.

The print’s foliage motifs and diffused light effects create a sense of calm and connection to the natural world. Gentle tonal variations mimic the way sunlight filters unevenly through leaves, creating a composition that feels both spontaneous and serene. I think the mood is rather contemplative, celebrating the simplest moments in nature.”

What was the painting process like? Did this print go through many iterations before you landed on the final artwork?

“Once I’d found the initial inspiration, I did a few sketches and took some photos before heading back to the studio to experiment with techniques and what type of medium to use. I decided on watercolour because of its translucent quality.

Then, I took all my different elements and scanned them into Photoshop where I used filters to create the layering of light and shadows. This also gives me the opportunity to look at scale, placement and colour balance. The whole process has many iterations, but we landed on a darker background as the contrast worked well especially with the delicate pops of colour.”

What excites you most about your work as a textile designer?

“The part I love best is the start of the design process. I love trying out new ideas each season and challenging myself to try out new techniques and concepts.”