THE WORLD OF KATE GOLDING

Nov 11, 2024

7 min read

126

You may recognize Kate Golding from her instagram account @kategolding where she documents her wallpaper designs and daily life in the picturesque town of Bonavista, Newfoundland. Today we learn about Kate's life behind the camera, why she’s partnered with CLOTH HALL, and what exciting project she's working on next.

Kate Golding, Bonavista Houses Wallpaper

Photo: Kate Golding, Bonavista Houses

Kate Golding has built a successful wallpaper line inspired by nature and the little details of everyday life. She's also someone you can enjoy having a great laugh with; within minutes of meeting, we found common ground in our shared love of pattern and design. Kate is a creative force with an adventurous spirit we admire. Her work embodies the Canadian experience, and we couldn't be more excited to collaborate with Kate by bringing her unique designs to CLOTH HALL.

Thanks for joining us, Kate! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your wallpaper.

Thank you so much Sarah, I am so happy to be here!

I am a wallpaper and surface pattern designer, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Bonavista, Newfoundland. I am originally from England but moved to Canada after completing my Fine Art degree in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the early 2000s.

As a child I always had a strong penchant for patterns and growing up in the Midlands of England in the 80s, I feel like so many elements of my childhood are bookmarked in my memories by the fabric and wallpaper patterns I was immersed in.

After hand printing wallpaper as part of my university degree show, I spent many years dreaming of designing wallpapers. I launched my first collection in 2016 and now have 90 wallpaper designs spanning seven collections.

All of my wallpapers are designed by myself and are inspired by the beauty of my natural surroundings and by little details found in my daily life. My wallpapers are produced in collaboration with WYNIL who print my papers with love and care in a beautiful building located in Old Montreal. It feels special to say that my wallpapers are Canadian from inspiration, to design, to production.

Photo: Kate Golding, Sumac

You recently relocated from Ontario to Bonavista, Newfoundland. How has this move impacted your lifestyle and your work?

Making the move from Ontario to outport Newfoundland has been one of the most rewarding and profoundly life changing experiences of my life. I had lived for many years in Toronto and after that, in the Prince Edward County area of Ontario. It is clear to see how that region inspired my work, especially in my Great Lakes Collection of wallpapers.

Like many people, after the pandemic, my husband Johnny (who is a photographer) and I reassessed our lives and decided that we might like to create something a little different for our next chapter.

We made the move to Bonavista, Newfoundland in May 2023 and are thrilled with our decision to build a new life here. There is something so unique about the wildness and life force here. The juxtaposition of high winds, crashing waves and giant rocks alongside the tiniest bog plants, mosses, delicate flowers and dreamy pastel-coloured skies. The environment seems to have a way of exposing parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there.

It is very special and we are so happy to feel inspired in our creative work here and also more nourished mentally and physically. We spend a lot of time hiking and embracing the outdoors. Each day seems to bring a wondrous new discovery or experience and daily life feels rich and inspired.

Without doubt, this new beginning is having an effect on my creative work. I am finding new inspiration and I think as time goes on, it may lead me down new paths and outlets for expressing my ideas.

We love getting a peek into your daily life on social media! What inspires you most about Bonavista/the Atlantic coast?

The inspiration here is truly as abundant as the bountiful natural environment. I feel so inspired in a literal sense by the magical flora, fauna and colour palettes. I am also feeling refreshed with a new perspective on life after our move here. Bonavista is located within the UNESCO Global Geopark which includes a number of sites of profound natural beauty. Exploring these sites provides a wealth of inspiration and creative influences.

To be able to work all day in my studio and then hike to a waterfall after work or go and harvest mussels for dinner is the most wonderful and unique privilege. These experiences are such a great source of personal sustenance and also are helping me fill my sketchbook with ideas.

Photo: Kate Golding, Sardines Charcoal

If you could describe your home in three words, what would they be?

Our current home is a lovely little rental which is temporary but is the perfect place to be while we are restoring our new home and work studios. I think that my three words are essential for any place I live:

Haven

Calm

Joyful

What are your favourite ways to recharge at home?

Depending on my mood, a quick walk (even if the day doesn’t allow for a long hike) followed by a long hot shower. I always find that the best ideas and moments of clarity come in the shower! Or sometimes I like to blast music and dance in my studio!

Whose home (someone you know/don’t know/alive/deceased) would you like to see your wallpaper in and why?

The biggest joy is when clients get you and celebrate what you do. The dream client is a person who inspires you. A client who gives you free-rein crank it up to the pinnacle of 'go wild’ proportions.

I would have loved to create wallpapers for David Bowie’s home. How incredibly special would that be to have your wallpaper in the home of such a beautiful, creative and inspiring soul?

I am imagining lots of custom design, especially for a dressing room and I think my Turkey Vulture wallpaper would appear too.

Photo: Kate Golding, Turkey Vulture

When do you feel most creative?

Early in the morning, before dawn. I love getting up around 4 or 5 in the morning and experiencing the peaceful bliss and ‘borrowed time’ before the rest of the world wakes. Watching the sky change from black to blissful pastels and hearing dawn birdsong is my favourite time of day and an extremely creative time for me.

How do you describe your design process?

Organic. I think that it is really important to find processes and methods which work for you, the type of work you want to create and the lifestyle you want to live. My physical process of creating designs feels natural to me and I truly enjoy this method of creation. My designs all begin with sketches and drawings laid out carefully on my light table. All of my artwork is forged by hand using brushes, ink and pen on transparencies to create the different layers of a motif. I then scan the individual layers into my computer to create the designs and repeat patterns.

More recently, I have been experimenting with designing on a tablet and so far, I am enjoying this process too. I never want to limit myself and I look forward to evolving my creative process over time.

In regard to finding inspiration, I believe that the end viewer of the work will have a much better connection with the design if the artwork is born from an authentic experience. I like to take photographs and make notes and sketches when gathering ideas. I might also document extra experiences; something I hear, something I smell or maybe a beautiful colour palette.

I enjoy all parts of the creative process, and there is nothing more rewarding than the final stage of test printing the wallpapers and presenting them in creative vignettes for your audience.

Photo: Kate Golding, creative process

When you design wallpaper, are you imagining the environments where they will be hung?

Yes! I love this part of creating and sometimes even at the point of finding inspiration I can already envision the design in my mind's eye and imagine it on the wall of a space.

One of the best things about designing wallpaper is that when you create work which is meaningful and authentic to you, you connect with your audience and I have learned on this journey that there is no limit to where your work could end up. It is so much fun to imagine the spaces and environments your work may be installed as you are working on pattern designs. It feels so special.

It is always such a privilege to have your design selected for a project. Whether for a private residence or commercial project, your artwork will become part of daily life for those inhabiting the space. That is never lost on me.

At CLOTH HALL, we are dedicated to elevating contemporary craft in Canada and are committed to supporting emerging craftspeople as they embark on their careers in textile, wallpaper and surface design. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and what advice would you give to a student or recent graduate who wants to pursue a career in this field?

Listen to your heart and intuition. There are endless avenues you could take in the world of surface pattern and textile design. This applies to how you create your art, your lifestyle choices and also how you envision your art being experienced in the world. It is important that you follow the paths that feel authentic to you and make decisions that are right for your life. There is not one correct template that fits all people.

It is also important to surround yourself with people who will encourage you, champion you and lift you up as you go after your dreams. These are the people who know the reality of what you put in to crafting your business and will share the highs and lows and laugh with you when you need it. What a truly beautiful life it is to be a textile and surface pattern designer, but it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. The journey is long and you will need people to cheer you along on route!

Photo: Kate Golding, Dandelion White

Is there a specific reason why you’ve chosen to partner with CLOTH HALL?

Everything about the process - from gathering my inspiration and creating my artwork to the printing of my wallpapers - is handled with love, care and attention to detail. It is important for me to collaborate and partner with people who share these values. I couldn’t be more thrilled about my partnership with Cloth Hall. Sarah and the Cloth Hall team are providing thoughtful, creative solutions for designers with a strong emphasis on quality, sustainability and unique, original design. It feels like a natural fit!

What are you currently working on and what will you be working on next?

I am currently working on new designs inspired by my new environment. It is also a special time as my husband and I are restoring a beautiful old house in Bonavista which will become our home and creative studios. We have never done a project like this before and it is incredibly rewarding and exciting.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

I feel so much gratitude to live a life of creativity. Thank you for being here!