Joanna Natalija Studio

11 October 2025

Creating hand-printed wallpapers and fabrics inspired by the wild Cornish landscape.

Some founders find their way by returning to the things that quietly bring them joy. For designer and printmaker Joanna Natalija, that moment came when the world slowed down, and drawing once again became her sanctuary for calm and discovery.

I was working as a photographer and like all of us, when Covid hit, there was no more work. I have always drawn and doodled since I was a child, but with two young children and busy lives I’d gotten out of the habit of it.

I found solace once more in drawing again. My interest in repeat pattern re-ignited and I poured over books from the V&A pattern archives. That coupled with daily walks in the countryside of West Penwith in Cornwall kept triggering ideas, the more I drew, the more I wanted to draw, create patterns and share what I’d created.

Around the same time, we also bought a home that can be described as a ‘fixer-upper’ so my mind went naturally to creating beautiful products to fill it with. After researching wallpapers and fabrics I found it hard to find a product that was sustainable, made in the UK, making it low-mileage, non-toxic and handmade. So I had the idea to develop my doodles into designs.

Some days I feel uninspired, but I find if I just get drawing, the ideas come

I live in Penzance, which juts out in to the ocean, on the far South West of Cornwall and is surrounded by rugged and untamed countryside. The light and magical atmosphere attracts a lot of creative people, so I find it constantly enriching and inspiring. I often get inspired when out walking. For the Euphorbia Design for example, I saw one of the beautiful plants at the edge of a footpath in the wilds of West Penwith. I picked it and went home and started drawing it, then memories of the walk, the rabbits and birds I saw come back to see and find their way into the design.

My designs are a mixture of memories triggered and new discoveries. I have an eclectic background, being half-Latvian and also spending a lot of my life in Canada growing up which I still consider my second home.

I am drawn to Folklore, and also the richness of melding of cultures which is very much memories from my childhood; spending summers in the wilderness in Canada and being transfixed by First People’s artistry, the pretty country village I grew up in inn England, and seeing the weavings and art from my Latvian relatives, and now, in this wild peninsula in Cornwall, all feeds into my designs somehow.

It is just me, my Lino tools, my house full of animals and after my ritual of a windswept walk every day, after dropping the kids off at school, I retreat back to my home studio.

Each design starts with the idea of one design element, and as I draw, more ideas come to me to incorporate into the design. I like the mixture of having the free ideas of hand-drawing, but then having to have a balance within the design. Some designs flow really easily – like Carousel – which was literally just lifted from a doodle I was doing whilst my kids watched T.V. Other designs never see the light of day because I get so far with them and they’re just not flowing and the balance isn’t right.

When I’m happy with the design, I transfer it onto the Lino and get carving which I find hugely therapeutic. I like to carve outside as much as possible, and if its sunny, it helps warm up the Lino and makes it easier to carve. Some days I feel uninspired, but I find if I just get drawing, the ideas come.

The first product that I created was my hand-printed wallpaper. I love how organic and unique each piece is. I also started sourcing vintage linens mostly from Ireland and France, that I then experimented printing onto fabric with to make table cloths, cushion covers, and with the offcuts I have a lovely Cornish seamstress who makes beautiful purses and make-up bags.

The light is always changing in West Cornwall and its this light that has historically attracted artists of all kinds to the area, and also this light and colour largely inspires my palette. Seeing colour combinations together in nature and how they ‘sing’ in harmony together inspires me to try and capture some of that in my work.

You’ll see the name of the hand-mixed colours correspondent to something I’m trying to capture from seeing it on my travels or walks. Pierrefonds a royal blue, is like the Quebecois Fleur-de-Lys, which is an homage to memories with my Mother’s family inn beloved Montreal growing up. Gorse, in contrast is very Cornish, named in honour of thee coconut aroma flower that grows on the moors amongst the heather in the wilds of Cornwall.

the protection of any kind of hand-made craftsmanship is a positive thing

As well as being inspired by nature and memory, I am drawn to traditional wallpaper production, and recently visited some beautiful chateaus in France on a research trip which have a fabulous collection of wallpapers and fabrics. These have planted seeds of inspiration for my next collection.

In the early stage of my repeat pattern journey I had the good fortune to be invited to the incredible Dutch printmaker Marthe Armitage’s studio in London and she really helped me with finding a method that helped my repeat patterns flow. I’ll always remember seeing her exquisitely carved and composed designs in person.

I also got a kick out of the wonderful designer Minnie Kemp taking my designs to New York for consideration for a project. I will always remember the first time I saw the print repeated on paper after imagining it in my head, it’s always so satisfying to see it taking shape.

The whole ethos of my brand is to create timeless designs that have a low-impact. The papers and fabrics I use are FSC Certified, deadstock (meaning they are offcuts of products already in production) or vintage and I use inks that are linseed oil or water-based. I am committed to creating a product that is as sustainable as possible, to protect the natural world that inspires me daily.

I also feel in this digital age, the protection of any kind of hand-made craftsmanship is a positive thing, and I love to be part of this.

I am in the process of creating my next collection, which I will experiment with using two colours. I am developing six designs, and this time have been inspired by my research trips to France and Italy.

I am always up for collaborating with other designers, and love to be around other creatives. This year I exhibited at the Craft Festival in Devon where I met other makers and designers, some of which gave me amazing advice and contacts. I am in talks with more independent shops about stocking my hand-printed papers and fabrics, and love seeing my work being enjoyed in homes by my customers.

Reflecting on my current designs, my personal favourite design is Iseo which was inspired by the glamour and mystery of the Lakes Region in Northern Italy. I noticed little details whilst travelling there, like carvings and tile patterns which I meshed together in this design. The peacock in the design is inspired by a family of wild peacocks that live near me in Cornwall, which I occasionally see on the school run!

It’s that little bit of unexpected, playful magic in the everyday that I try to capture and keep alive to share with others through my designs. I strive to continue doing that.

Thank you Joanna for sharing your story. Your work carries a beautiful sense of place. I love how the smallest details of the world around us can become lasting works of art. – Lyndsey

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