Edinburgh designer Jessie raises the BAR in contemporary style
By taking everyday objects out of their normal context, Edinburgh-based fine art graduate Jessica Anderton is hoping to elevate them to new realms of loveliness.
BAR, a repetitive pattern of bottles at the centre of her successful degree show, has now become the inspiration for a stylish range of homeware and her own contemporary design business.
Jessica Anderton Designs focuses on ideas behind contemporary life and consumerism, depicting the beauty in items often overlooked and disregarded. “Ultimately, I want people to feel joyful and gain pleasure when viewing my work. I want to make the viewer look at a commonplace object in an inquisitive way, by seeing something new and fresh,” says Jessie, who graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2018.
“I wanted to create a brand that has truly distinctive, imaginative and uniquely designed products, as well as being comfortable and high quality. Each product in my collection is originally drawn and hand-painted in my Edinburgh studio and manufactured in the United Kingdom.”
To ensure her bespoke products are long-lasting, with superior feel and detail, Jessie is committed to using quality, ethically sourced materials and modern printing techniques, using eco-friendly inks.
The current product range – items of which are available at PAD Lifestyle in Howe Street and its Harvey Nichols concession – includes cushions, tea towels, aprons, wash bags, art prints, lampshades, purses, drinks trays and coasters in different designs.
Over the last year, Jessie, 23, has also exhibited her work at a number of leading galleries, as well as operating a Christmas pop-up at Jenners Edinburgh.
Her most notable career accomplishment to date has been selling three paintings depicting cross-sections of chocolate bars to Mars CEO Grant F Reid, her first patron and a loyal supporter.
The full range is available at jessicaandertondesigns.com
By Julie Douglas, The Newsroom, Edinburgh Evening News, The Scotsman