Laura Spencer ~ The Art Ministry

Laura Spencer

Designer

Laura Spencer was born and brought up in Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, in the Northeast of England. Coming from a close-knit family, Laura’s talent as an artist was recognised and encouraged at an early age. Completing a B Tech and an HND in textiles 11 years ago, she has worked with the best in the industry, developing her own distinctive style and signature.

An accomplished textile designer, Laura was trained by an ‘old master’, Ellen Haas at Ivo Prints, where Laura’s talent came to the fore by specialising in the complex art of Toile de Jouy.

Laura has excelled in perfecting her signature. Her passion for Toile de Jouy has meant a high demand for her talent working with designers and fashion houses such as Zandra Rhodes, Celia Birtwell, Beaumont and Fletcher, Bennison Fabrics, Caroline Quatermaine, Porter Romana, Ian Sanderson, Lewison Wood and Vanessa Arbuthnott to name a few.

Laura joined Ivo Prints after completing her HND, which became her training ground for the next 8 years. Learning and developing vital skills at Ivo, Laura’s admiration and respect for Ellen Haas has remained steadfast. Laura explains that “when Vivien Westwood and Zandra Rhodes started, they learned production with Ellen Haas, so I feel I’ve learned from the best.

Inspired by ‘old masters’, Laura identifies with the Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris and Ellen Haas as major influences on her style and development as a designer. Her need for detail and skills for hand drawing and illustrations are in high demand. Laura observes that “a lot of people can’t draw properly. You need to be able to feel the weight and depth of what you are drawing to create an effective and emotive design. It’s important to put your best into a piece of work, even if it’s for the low end of the market which can be as demanding as the high-end”.

A prolific designer, Laura has come to be known for her work in the style of Toile de Jouy which requires close and intricate work, often taking days to complete. “There are a lot of people who want traditional work. Like Toile de Jouy, it’s traditional and very intricate and concentrated work. Sometimes I get the paint brushes out, the fat ones and go mad and feel the texture – it’s the opposite of toile de jour. By doing this and using your forearms instead of disciplined hand strokes you free your hand so it doesn’t get too tight."

Laura Spencer’s collection is unique, exclusive and specifically developed for The Art Ministry. She has produced an outstanding design entitled “The Wilderness Collection” celebrating nature and colour in a range encompassing fabrics, wallpaper, porcelain and silverware.

Full collection coming soon.

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