FOUNDER OF ATELIER ELLIS

We’re often asked what should guide an art purchase - and for us, the answer is always the feeling you get when you see the piece. When it feels like it was tailor- made for you and has always belonged in your home. 

Similarly, Atelier Ellis’ colours are designed to create simple and honest backdrops to people’s homes and lives, telling their stories through shades inspired by personal memories, marks and fragments.

Cassandra Ellis is the founder of Atelier Ellis, the small-batch handmade paint company based in Bath. With a background in set, interior design and art direction, Cassandra has an innate intuition for colour. Here she tells us about their design ethos, what guides her colour choices in a space, and her favourite pieces in her collection.

Because of her eye for colour and passion for storytelling, we were so excited to invite Cassandra to join us as part of our Open Call selection committee. You can now discover the work of our 10 winners along with Cassandra’s selection.

How did Atelier Ellis come about?

I founded Atelier Ellis 2018. Having always made my own colours for interior projects, and always being driven by colour as a storyteller, I launched my first colour collection of 18 shades. From there it has grown both in number of colours, and more importantly, in our own manufacturing by putting materials and best practice first.

How would you describe Atelier Ellis’ design ethos?

All aspects of the Atelier Ellis approach to paint and colour are informed by a philosophy of making paint as a conduit to helping people tell their story of home and place. We place humans at the centre of what, how and why we make, which is why our colours often feel emotive and familiar, and why our paint is carefully formulated to be better for people and place. We’re guided by beauty, knowledge and goodness. This includes the materials that we use - and don’t use; where we source our materials - and don’t; how we treat our customers, and how we treat each other.

What guides your colour choices for a space?

We always start with the human - as in the person or people that are living in the space. We all have deep-rooted colour memories. If yellow makes you shudder then it doesn’t matter if your kitchen cupboards would look great in yellow - you will be unhappy. Then we look at the space - light, engagement between rooms and the pleasurable uniqueness of each-and-every house.

How does colour influence the artworks that come into your home?

It doesn’t - if I like something it comes in. I don’t believe you should match your wall colour to your art or vice versa. It’s whatever pleases you.

If you could have any artwork what would it be and why?

Winifred Nicholson’s Road Along the Roman Wall (Landscape with Two Buildings), 1926. It hangs in Kettle’s Yard - so I just have to make do with sitting in a chair and looking at it.

Favourite artwork in your collection and why?

As a painting - Philip Jones - the Gate. We bought it from Jenna Burlingham when we could first start buying ‘good’. It’s the first painting I see when I walk in the door. Otherwise, there are many many ceramics by all sorts of excellent makers. And bird’s nests - and baskets - and textile art. And slowly I will buy a piece by Celia Dowson when I can. The thread is hands and excellence - and beauty.

QUICKFIRE

Go to place for inspiration? The V&A, Flow Gallery, Kettle’s Yard, and gardens.

Personal favourite colour? Our Tamaki

Design muse? Pauline de Rothschild

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@atelier.ellis | @atelierellis.co.uk

Photography by Ellen Christina Hancock and portrait by Martin Morrell

We're very excited to announce the Partnership Editions Artist Open Call winners. We had over 550 applicants from all around the world, all of an incredibly high standard, so making this edit was not easy, and we are so grateful to all those who took the time to apply.

Alongside our founder, Georgia Spray, we called on our selection committee of tastemakers including Cassandra, who used her expertise and excellent eye to help us unearth and shine a light on new talent.

Discover the Open Call Winners Collection.

“A textile practice is the hardest to navigate and develop. For a young artist I think that Ann-Marie has an excellent eye and technique - and eye for colour. Really lovely work.” - Cassandra Ellis on Ann-Marie Williamson

“Euan’s work is totally unique and filled with thought as well as being really well executed. I’ve not seen work like this before and I’m so interested to see what he creates on-going.” - Cassandra Ellis on Euan Evans

“Beautifully executed and crafted. Lisa’s work strikes a really lovely balance of useful and wonderful to look at. Incredibly collectable.” - Cassandra Ellis on Lisa Sandner