Roger Woods( 1945-2002) was an extraordinary artist. Very few of his paintings were seen by even his closest friends while he was alive and only now have they been published on the web by his partner Simone Witney.
Painting entranced but also tormented him and he
often turned to his second love, the decorative art of fabric design, which he could do with the greatest ease.
In the 70's he worked in the James Haward studio(set up in the Edwardian period in Twickenham) where
he met and became the chief assistant to Bernard Nevill, then design director of Liberty.
His fashion designs were in demand from Cantoni and Etro.
In 1988 he formed a partnership with Simone, which was to become the highly successful company Ariadne.
Many of the patterns we produced were original designs drawn from period sources.
They have become modern classics.
Our tea-stained collections and those at Osborne and Little have been in constant use for period dramas
by the BBC and Channel 4.
Our fabrics have been selling in the US, Japan and Ireland as well as in the UK.
For the full story about Roger visit:
Rogerwoods
Paul Turnbull of Turnbull Thompson Ltd fabric printers, who has worked with us since the beginning:
" Roger's work spoke volumes about the man and in a world of 'disposable product' and 'disposable art,
a window back to a different method of working. Designs were fully considered at every stage,
and doubtless went through many stages from rough sketches to the final design many months later....
On many instances the artwork was damp when collected and broody concerns about the future prospects of his 'offspring' voiced. No Fabric Printer could have felt the responsibilities of adoption so acutely.....
Although he regarded this commercial element as being secondary to his true love of Fine Art,
it does seem fitting that his work lives on in the homes of literally thousands of people.
Like great buildings, many of his patterns are timeless, and hopefully a fitting testament to Roger
and pleasure to those who see them in the years to come."
We have been distributing our own collections in London and worldwide for 20 years and they have become recognised classics. We have made major contributions to the textile design industry and are one of a kind.
Liberty, Cantoni, Etro,Boussac, Soiries Nouveautees, James Haward Studio, Mulberry, Borderline
have all bought Roger's designs. Osborne and Little, Zoffany have commissioned collections.
For the Liberty connection- Liberty of London
Textile Design using Antique
Textiles and Traditional methods Creating Modern English Fabric
ARIADNE FABRIC