Homeware title: ‘Le Chéile’ (Irish Gaelic = Togetherness)
Sophie Grindlay (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist-designer specialising in screen and sublimation printed textiles. Stories expressed in colour and humour, created with textural layers is her gig. Her intention is to vividly tackle social and political issues through her design craft.
Coming from Irish descent and growing up in Peterborough, a Ken Loach style of town, gave Sophie an interest in people, the stories they tell and the social issues that impact them. This combined with an overtly obsessive penchant for texture and colour, and a curiosity for pattern has fueled her passion to create and a desire to assist and prioritise the human experience.
Sophie tends to render her designs by slicing and layering materials. Acrylic paint attacked by Posca and crayons. Shapes and colours rave together forming an image or object reimagined into print design and art.
For the Not Just a Shop ‘HOME’ brief Sophie was inspired by people coming together and connecting, this is what HOME means to her. The napkins are an extension of a celebration or gathering. Fractal lines of tassels and streamers, bold and bright colours representing joy and togetherness.
Navigating her design practice responsibly is important to Sophie, through repurposing objects and textiles and exploring less harmful ways to create and print. She finds joy in collaborating on community projects, facilitating workshops and using unusual materials to open up dialogues within her community and public spaces.
