Juliet Travers’ birth flower paintings

Karen Neville

Chawton illustrator Juliet Travers loves the local wildlife, which inspires her birth flower paintings

Juliet has had a passion for colour and drawing from a young age. “I used to fill endless folders of sketches and doodles when I was young,” she tells us. “All my school books were covered in scribbles and patterns, which I was often told off for!”

She comes from a big family of creatives, and cites her mother as inspirations. “She painted Disney characters and storybook murals on mine and my five siblings’ bedroom doors,” she says. “I helped her paint a Winnie the Pooh playroom when I was 11. She was self-taught and naturally talented so I learnt a lot from her.”

Juliet, who loves living in Jane Austen’s home village with her husband and two children, studied at Edinburgh College of Art. During university holidays she worked at Fox Linton, Cole and Son Colefax and Fowler and then became head of sales at de Gournay when she graduated. “It was the perfect catalyst to take the leap and venture off on my own,” she says.

“My husband is Zimbabwean and grew up on a farm out there which was why I focused on the safari theme for my debut collection. It’s a very special place and we hope to go back soon.

“Our home here is a converted barn overlooking endless fields and next to a woodland. We adore it here and haven’t looked back since moving from London in 2012. We have two cocker spaniels, Hippo and Cuba who was a wedding present. Lots of friends got their sibling so when we meet up, there are about 16 spaniels between us, are all related. It’s special! I love walking (or running) with my dogs for escapism, exercise, inspiration, fresh air and wellness. I often come back with a mind full of new design ideas and quickly have to note them down before I forget them!”

Last year Juliet painted and launched 12 original paintings of birth month flowers on 12 birthstone colours that sold out within 24 hours. Following this success, Juliet has released a selection of limited edition prints and greeting cards for sale in her online shop.

As for fellow local creatives, Juliet is a big fan of Long Barn in Alresford… “Gorgeous gifts, ornaments, clothes, jewellery! The Alresford Linen company is also a winner for fashion, home and lifestyle. The Consortium and The Hambleden my favourite independent shops and I love the Yard Café, West Lea Farm Shop, Pulpo Negro and the Pump House where my wallpaper is in the ladies and men’s loos! It’s a brilliant co-working space offering yoga, river walks, delicious food, events and a garden spa. It’s full of inspiring people and other entrepreneurs.”

See more of Juliet’s work here