SJ Axelby's Interior Portraits

An artist’s record of the homes of 89 leading creatives from interior designers to ceramicists, antiques dealers, florists and chefs.
SJ Axelby brings new life to interior portraiture, capturing in paint the favourite rooms of 89 leading creatives from interior designers to ceramicists and antiques dealers (and florists and chefs). A sumptuously illustrated record of a home or special project, each interior portrait is accompanied by a charming and quirky interview with the owner, in which we discover invaluable nuggets of design advice, cocktail choice, life hacks and so much more – all illustrated in watercolour by SJ.

There is a long tradition of painting rooms to provide a record of grand homes, giving a glimpse into the life and times of previous generations. Today there is a resurgence of interest in our living spaces, but there is no book in the tradition of illustrated room portraiture to inspire you. SJ Axelby's Interior Portraits will take you into multiple unique and colourful homes, seen through the artist’s eye.

Creating an authentic and characterful scheme is much like the composition of a painting: the shape, form, contrast, colour, pattern and texture all need to work in harmony. This pictorial guide includes not only Sarah-Jane’s original watercolours but scrapbook pages annotated with design wisdom from each room’s owners, which will enthuse and empower the reader to try new ideas in their own homes. It’s a creative who’s who of the international design world featuring mouth-watering compositions bursting with colour and pattern and displaying the true joy of a home that reflects its owner’s personality.

This book is a beautiful object with coloured edges, hand-painted endpapers and a ribbon. It’s intended as a scrapbook to dip into and discover something new every time you open it. With a foreword by Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels.

Just a few of the creatives featured:
Alexandra Tolstoy
Alice Stori Liechtenstein
Anna Spiro
Ashley Hicks
Ben Pentreath & Charlie McCormick
Cath Kidston Padgham
Erica Davies
Flora Soames
Henry Holland
Kit Kemp
Lucinda Chambers
Lulu Lytle
Luke Edward Hall & Duncan Campbell
Matilda Goad
Penny Morrison
Robert Kime
Skye McAlpine
Sophie Conran

About the Author

SJ Axelby has had a paintbrush in her hand for as long as she can remember. She has a degree in textile design and loves pattern, colour and all things interiors. Best known for her room portraiture (she created the Room Portrait Club during lockdown), recent clients include Christie's, Kit Kemp and Alexandra Tolstoy. Her work has featured in the Telegraph Stella Magazine, FT How to Spend It, the Liberty Book, Elle Decoration and The World of Interiors and international titles such as Elle Decor Italia and Architectural Digest.

She is now a full-time room portrait artist working for designers, hoteliers and clients around the world.