Rosalind Freeborn

Papershades

Lamp maker

Illustrated by hand, composed with paper

Rosalind has a great passion for illustration, paper collage and making 3D objects
She has taught hundreds of people to enjoy paper collage
She has invented a self-assembly system for people to make their own lampshades

Rosalind Freeborn is a self-taught artist who makes whimsical and playful lampshades. An enthusiastic paper collage maker, she came up with the unique concept for Papershades: flat-pack shades to self-assemble using only paper panels and two acrylic support-wheels. Her collage designs range from British towns and florals to literary figures and children’s themes. "Why should lampshades not be art, my art!” thought Rosalind at the start of her journey. "Displayed on a stand, they will brighten up a room whether the lights are on or off," she says. Rosalind gives workshops in the workplace, at craft events and in domestic spaces. During lockdown, she designed various places meaningful to her, which became very popular with customers who love seeing their neighbourhood depicted in collage.

Interview

©Daniel Gould

What made you work with paper only?: I have always had a passion for paper. I love the versatility of the medium. I also recycle paper to create my art. I love the feel of paper when it is in my fingers and ready to be torn or snipped with scissors.
How did you come up with the support wheels?: I am an artist not a designer, so this was the most difficult part. I needed a way to grip the paper in place. I came up with the wheel-shaped supports with a little grip at the tip into which the two panels of paper fitted perfectly. Then I found a sturdy paper.
What do you enjoy the most about your craft?: I love designing my papershades best, which is the most creative part. I now also enjoy the marketing and outreaching side of my practice. Most people who discover papershades are impressed by the simplicity of the design and innovative way I use paper.
What was the turning point in making lampshades?: I had a ‘light bulb moment’ when I realised the lampshades around my home were very dull – mostly fabric, faded and fraying. I thought, "I am a paper collage artist! Why could a lampshade not be art, my art?"

Rosalind Freeborn is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2018