Why Every Fromental Wallcovering Begins as a Hand-Painted Original

Our original artworks don't arrive from a single place. They're born from curiosity — from archival prints discovered in auction houses, books pulled from library shelves, trips taken by founders Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes, the artistic sensibilities passed down through their families. Just as often, inspiration comes from the world itself: an unexpected mark on weathered stone, the way lichen grows across bark, or a scrap of textile spotted in passing. 

We're magpies by nature. And once an idea takes hold, our artists begin their work. 

Each design is developed at full scale and often across multiple panels, typically using silk, paper and paint. Birds and branches are realised through brushwork, not pixels. Landscapes unfold intuitively. Textures — both abstract and precise — amass in layers as the composition finds its rhythm. 

What happens by hand can't be replicated digitally. Paint pools, brushstrokes overlap with varying pressure and negative space is felt, not calculated. It is these characteristics that give each Fromental design its distinct character. 

Once the original artwork is complete, it becomes the master reference for everything that follows. Some designs will always remain entirely hand-painted, panel by panel. Others are translated into print or embellished with intricate silk-floss embroidery, or foiling — always applied by hand. 

Over the years, we've built a rich collection of hand-painted and embroidered original wallpaper designs. Each one is a record of a particular hand, a moment of experimentation and of collaboration.  

Meanwhile, every design in our printed wallpaper collection begins as a hand-painted silk panel — several skilled artists can collaborate over 50 hours to hand-finish a single piece. These panels are then scanned at ultra-high resolution and digitised. 

Our dedicated design team in London refine the scanned files, carefully preserving every brushstroke, texture, and subtle nuance. It’s a meticulous process that bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology, ensuring that each printed piece retains the essence of the hand-painted original. The result is a wallpaper that never feels flat, even when technology plays a role in its making. 

Beginning with hand-painted art means our work doesn't follow trend or formula. Each design carries a sense of authorship — something felt once it's installed, whether in a private home, a hotel, or another public setting. 

In a world increasingly mediated by screens, we continue to place value on the human hand. Every brushstroke matters. It's those marks, made patiently and precisely, that give our wallcoverings their charm, finesse and lasting presence.