Tate + DARN. 100% silk scarf, sold exclusively in Tate St Ives and Tate Britain. Join us for a very special DARN + Tate Supper Club event on Friday 11th November / 7pm - 11pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Tate + DARN Collaboration is one that if you had told me a few years ago would be happening I wouldn’t have believed it, but here we are! It has been a delight and a pleasure to design this scarf, especially after having such a magical time living and being part of the St Ives community. The design brief we created was very fun and it was nice to incorporate so many colours into one design. I drew many different initial options which were collaged, scanned and played with until we found our favourite one.

Cornwall has become my true home ever since I headed south from London to attend Falmouth University. The community, landscape and unique craftspeople here lured me into returning time and time again after my studies ended and it didn't take long for me to realise this was where I was destined to be.

Before finding my current nook, I rented a room in St Ives, opposite the iconic Leach Pottery studio and shop. The landlady Camilla Dixon was one of my lecturers at Falmouth University, she is a silver-haired artist and activist, a real leader and pioneer who has created a home for local and visiting creatives. The house was previously called home by creators such as Milly Melbourne of oB Wear and indigo dye queen Sarah Johnson; two makers who are such expanders for me as I have watched them grow and they have so kindly encouraged my own beginnings in launching a brand!

St Ives is famous for its appeal to artists and creatives. Some say it is because of the special, very pure quality of light that is experienced there. For me it is the town’s history which is enriched with stories of craftspeople such as Dame Barbara Hepworth and Alfred Wallis (two of my favourites) who developed their own unique styles and most famous works in the once fishing-focused town. Continuing to share the works of creatives from our past, present and future, the Tate has always been special to me as a place that I would find solace in when feeling a little flat or in need of an inspiration boost. During my time living in St Ives I couldn’t believe my luck at being able to walk from my home, along the coastline and into the gallery space of Cornwall’s very own Tate.

Tate + DARN 100% Silk Scarf St Ives Artists Alfred Wallis

Paying homage to the artists who once lived and worked in the town, inspiration was drawn from the work of Alfred Wallis in particular to create a collaged design that includes hand drawn boats against a pink watercolour centre, mimicking the magical ‘shepherds delight’ sunsets you can often see on the horizon of St Ives. The sketched boats were developed through playing with different mediums. Each boat I drew came out differently, so we decided to mix it up and use a range of the boats I had drawn. The scallop wiggle is one of DARN’s favourite motifs, it was fun using a deep royal blue to draw the wave-like wiggles.

A Cornish fisherman and artist who moved with his family to St Ives in 1890, Alfred Wallis is best known for a naive painting style which many people find very charming - he never had any formal lessons and began painting aged 70 ‘for company’ after his wife passed away. He was laid to rest in Barnoon cemetery, St Ives which I would often visit at night. Some people might find it a bit creepy to go at this time, but I always found it quite comforting. Alfred’s tile grave was made by Leach Pottery and has a beautiful, illustrated lighthouse design - I like to give it a little pat and say hello on route home or into town.

A woman who has inspired myself and so many others with her modernist sculpture style and pioneering position as a female artist during her lifetime, I like to imagine this scarf being worn by the lady herself as she sculpted in her studio or walked the coastal paths for inspiration. She wore scarves so well, if only she was here today for me to gift her one!

The Tate + DARN silk scarf design is available to purchase at the Tate St Ives and Tate Britain. Thank you so much to Gemma and the team at Tate St Ives for bringing this collaboration to life.