Textured walls from patterned walks
- Fiona's works are inspired by daily life and nature
- Her designs aim to merge interior spaces with the natural world
- She paints each sheet by hand before shaping it into collages with scissors
Fiona McTaggart's move to Dorset inspired her new path as a surface pattern designer, collage illustrator and wallpaper maker. She trained in fine art and worked as an art teacher, which shaped her approach to creativity and engagement. "I often begin my work with walks through the woods or the garden, gathering fruits, seeds, plants and other natural finds. Each item I collect informs hand painted papers that I then cut and assemble with my 'drawing with scissors' approach," Fiona says. This is how she gradually forms collages that convey texture, shape and essence, and later digitally assembles them into seamless patterns. Fiona's children continuously open her eyes to new ways of seeing the world by highlighting details that might otherwise go unnoticed. “I hope my patterns offer people a pause and encourage them to appreciate the subtle beauty of daily life," she explains.
Interview
- Is your artistic path defined by a specific moment?
- Motherhood marked a turning point in both my life and career, and it brought with it my move from the city to the countryside. The slower pace, the walks, the garden and the forest around me offered a renewed sense of wonder. Watching life unfold with my children shaped the rhythm and care that now flow through my patterns.
- How do your collections reflect your personal experiences?
- I organise my work into three collections. The Good Life showcases fruits and vegetables, celebrating their colours, forms and textures. Flower Power explores flowers from bud to bloom, emphasising their symbolism and beauty. Into The Woods reflects nature’s cycles, translating seasonal textures and shapes into interior patterns.
- What usually astonishes viewers of your work?
- Viewers are often struck by the fact that each motif in my patterns has a carefully crafted original collage behind it. I bring these originals to exhibitions or demonstrate my process on site, cutting and arranging hand painted paper. It always generates interest and conversation.
- What gives your patterns their dimensional quality?
- I photograph my original collages in sunlight, allowing the shadows to fall naturally. These shadows are preserved in the final design, giving the patterns volume and a tactile quality that makes the compositions feel alive and dimensional.
Fiona McTaggart is a rising star: she began her career in 2022
Where
Fiona McTaggart
