Surface pattern inspired by William Morris and The Arts and Crafts movement.

Strawberry Thieves by jaymorrisillustration.com after William Morris.

I was listening to the brilliant R4 comedy podcast 'You're Dead to Me' (18th January episode if you want to find it on BBC Sounds,) and this week it was about William Morris and The Arts and Crafts movement.

It prompted me to dig out and finish my reimagined contemporary cartoon pen and ink version of the 'Strawberry Thieves' pattern, which began as a sketch in the margins when I was first researching his work.

By making the thrushes more active and adding elements the design loses its perfect symmetry, but becomes more a narrative print with hidden stories, competition and jealousy amongst the birds in the image. When the image is reflected and repeated some of the pleasing symmetricality associated with textile design is returned.

I'm thinking of possiblities for future designs; 'blackberry burglars', 'raspberry robbers', or 'pomegranate pinchers'!

Strawberry Thieves kaleidoscopic repeat pattern by jaymorrisillustration.com