Rosanna Bishop

Textile printer

Celebrating screen-printing and slow design

At every step of the design process, Rosanna creates with longevity in mind
Her work pushes beyond the traditional yet remains grounded in skilled technique
From the weather to found objects, she finds inspiration in many corners of her daily life

Rosanna Bishop merges maximalist design with slow, skillful artistry. A master in the traditional craft of silk screen-printing, her work reveals the true meaning of the term bespoke. After initially being encouraged to explore other careers, Rosanna changed paths, taking up graphics, photography, fine art and textiles. Realising she could apply all these disciplines to textile craftsmanship, Rosanna pursued textiles. Today, her designs are celebrated and have been featured at Paris Fashion Week. Her signature style, born in part from awe felt during visits to stately homes and palaces, combined with her slow consideration in the design process, results in highly unique, luxurious pieces that will live on for generations.

Interview

©Bridie O Sullivan

What draws you to the materials that you work with?: I celebrate the breadth of what screen-printing can offer over digital printing, playing with textures and varying opacities, whether that is by printing opaque designs onto sheer silk organzas or by burning away heavy velvets to reveal sheer patterns using the devoré technique.
How does your work process usually start?: My ideas start as notes made in the early hours, and progress into a sketchbook, where I clip together sketches, fabrics, and miscellaneous items to reference for colour or texture. It may include anything from a feather I found or a “mistake” from a previous print that I want to refine.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?: Many things spark ideas: anything from a physical aesthetic to an article I have read. Everything I experience is digested within my work, whether it is morning winter walks by the sea influencing a colour palette or a photograph of some moss inspiring a background texture.
What aspect of your work do people not usually know about?: People are intrigued by the practical process of screen-printing. Even after years of doing it, I still find it exciting to see all the days spent illustrating, working out colour crossovers, and trialling printing methods come together. It is nothing short of magic (when it works, of course!).

Rosanna Bishop is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2015