"Hello! I am Claire Brownbridge, the artist, print designer and founder of brown&bridge, working from my home studio in the heart of rural Perthshire. It all started in 2019, when I began combining my love for art and design with my career as a teacher, with an idea to bring countryside charm to the heart of the home through practical, high quality products that would enhance daily living. Brown&bridge has developed slowly as I have learned new skills and found my style through Scotland's wildlife and landscapes.
At brown&bridge you’ll find colourful and charismatic prints adorning a thoughtfully curated range of kitchenware, cards and giftware. My designs celebrate the character of Scotland’s wildlife and native breeds and feature colour palettes drawn from the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape. Each piece blends rustic charm with modern design to bring a little countryside personality into your everyday.
Aesthetic
I am inspired by the animals I encounter when out in the Scottish Countryside. Their quirky personalities and often comical ways in which they interact - with both each other and me, as I try to photograph them - prompt my designs.
Colour plays a central role in my work. My palettes are thoughtfully curated, harmonious and are deeply rooted in the Scottish landscape and the subjects I capture.
My design style is influenced by artists and designers such as Gary Hume and Orla Kiely, united by a shared appreciation for bold shapes, clean lines, and rich, saturated colour.
Practice
My designs originate from the photographs I take during my outdoor adventures on foot. Initial sketches from these photographs are developed into simple lines drawings, and I place an emphasis on capturing the personality and character of the subject. Drawings are then digitised and by disconnecting the lines of the drawing from the overall shape, I am able to play with both elements independently. By arranging these two elements separately from each other I introduce a lively dynamic energy, reminiscent of the charm found in off-register, misaligned prints. Colour is then added, and a repeat pattern is developed, resulting in a visual narrative with a contemporary yet rustic feel.
The Designs
Each collection features a ‘Portrait’ and a ‘Field and Fold’ design. The Portraits provide a fun element where I can really play with personality and storytelling. The Fields and Folds are repeat patterns that add a countryside flavour to homeware products, capturing stories in classic country farmhouse designs.
What makes my work unique?
My designs are created from my own artwork, which I draw from my own source material. Throughout this process I focus on capturing character and personality so that I can bring it across in my work, to make it feel alive. I try to tell a story in each design by considering the subjects’ personalities, quirks and mannerisms.
How do I see my pieces being used?
I want my designs to be uplifting by bringing character to interiors and the most mundane tasks, so I place my designs on products that will be used every day. As the kitchen is the heart of every home, this seemed a good location to start.