ABOUT THE ARTIST
Arthur Lanyon is a British artist born in Leicester, England in 1985. He lives and works from a studio near Penzance, Cornwall. Born in to an artistic family, his father was the painter Matthew Lanyon and his grandfather the celebrated, influential and world renowned modernist painter Peter Lanyon.
Lanyon focuses primarily on painting, creating multi-scale pieces consisting of figurative motifs and gestural marks. Commenting on his early memories of drawing, Lanyon writes that these were often ‘abstract essences of what I knew rather than realistic depictions of what I saw.’ He goes on to explain that he would then title these works with absolute certainty, despite the abstracted drawings distorting any sense of reality or recognition.
Despite his distinctive painting style, Lanyon refrains from stylistically labelling his artistic approach: 'I prefer to let the work do the talking. I’m constantly figuring out in my head and trying to verbalise my work,' states Lanyon.
Working in collaboration with Arthur Lanyon, Knots Rugs set out to create two interpretations of Lanyon's dynamic paintings. The translation of textural brushstrokes and tonal variation within the original artwork required the producers to use a vast array of yarns in order to capture every nuance within Lanyon's painting. Upon seeing the completed rug, Lanyon stated that he was 'absolutely blown away [by the rug]... amazing! So much complexity and detail. The quality is astounding.' Comprised of decadent silk and wool yarns, the true essence of the original piece has been successfully captured by the weavers in Nepal whose artisan skill honour Lanyon's artistic vision.
'BLUE FIN'
A rich and complex interpretation of an original painting by the St Ives artist Arthur Lanyon, Blue Fin is an art inspired rug with a modernist feel. The artwork boasts a playful energy with sporadic brushstrokes and abstracted shapes. Muted tones form the foundations of the piece, with the occasional presence of blue hues contrasting against the overall monochromatic colour palette. Silks and wools work together to articulate the original paint strokes, adding another level of dimension to the contemporary artist rug.
'BELL & CHIME'
Rich in texture and exquisitely designed, this stunning modernist carpet has been designed by St Ives based abstract Artist Arthur Lanyon.
The rug possesses a sense of vibrancy and playfulness, capturing the whimsical originality of Lanyon's original piece. Blocked out abstracted forms contrast against an array of sweeping colours formed within the background. Painterly strokes and bold graphic marks are encapsulated by the weaver who uses 46 colours to capture the nuances of Lanyon's original artwork.
'BLUE FIN'
A rich and complex interpretation of an original painting by St Ives based abstract Artist Arthur Lanyon, Blue Fin is an art inspired rug. Made in a 200 knot quality, this exquisite Limited Edition carpet is a true masterpiece of design, the definition of ‘Your Floor Is The Canvas’.
'BELL & CHIME'
Rich in texture and exquisitely designed, this stunning modernist carpet has been designed by St Ives based abstract Artist Arthur Lanyon. Made up of 46 colours, conveying a sense of vibrant movement and playfulness. "If you are making noise, working with and against something at the same time, there is always going to be an energy there."
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Origins
Visionary Women shifting the Pattern
Behind every Knots rugs lies a story of artistry, tradition and collaboration. But woven even deeper into the fabric of our work is the story of women – visionary, resilient and driven by a desire to create something meaningful. This journal is a celebration of two such women: Bonnie, the founder of Knots Rugs, London and Dolma, one of our most trusted and long-standing production partners based in Nepal. Though worlds apart their lives and work are beautifully linked by a shared passion for rugs, deep respect for craftsmanship, supporting communities and a commitment to empowering women together.
Production
Natural Materials behind every Knots Rug
Each Knots rugs rug weaves a narrative rich not only in color and design but also in materials. The rugs are intricately crafted from materials sourced from the lush silk fields, the majestic Himalayan highlands, and the green hillsides covered with wild nettle. Our rugs are born from nature’s own palette, woven with materials that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful. At Knots Rugs, our work begins long before a single knot is tied. It starts in nature, where the finest, most ethical, and sustainable fibers are found. We work with all the different fibers in the world, from Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, wild silk, nettle, hemp, and cactus.
Production
How a Rug gets its Colours
When you’re thinking of a design for a rug, the first thing that might come to your mind is the intricate pattern or overall artwork. But behind the allure of each beautiful rug lies an important and complicated process which often goes unnoticed - the art of selecting colours.