Artist Focus: Interview with print and pattern maker Kate Millbank

We sit down with print and pattern maker Kate Millbank, creator of the beautiful hand-printed hanging decorations featured in RSPB Shop, to find out all about her creative process, inspiration and how sustainability plays a huge part in her art.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Kate and I am a print and pattern maker working predominantly in the medium of lino printing. I am inspired by the natural world and my work is a celebration of the native flora and fauna of the British Isles, and the gentle flow of the seasons as we move through the year.

I love to make original prints and thoughtful products, that bring my customers joy and help them to bring a touch of the wild into their home. My background is in Fashion and Sustainable design. I have a BA honours degree in fashion from Central Saint Martins and a master’s degree from The Centre of Alternative Technology in sustainability. I live in Scotland and love jumping in the sea at any opportunity!

How long have you been making art for, and what inspired you to become an artist?

I have always wanted to be an artist and went to school next to Wimbledon School of Art. It was my dream one day to study at the art school, which I am glad to say came true! I went on to do my art foundation course at Wimbledon School of Art, which was followed later by a degree at Central Saint Martins and masters at The Centre of Alternative Technology. I set up my own artists practice eight years ago, but have always enjoyed making things from an early age.

How would you describe your art style/process?

My style is quite playful and I enjoy combining techniques and materials. With a background in fashion all my work is very colour conscious and I enjoy the texture and feel of things. I love to doodle in my sketchbook, and explore ideas in my studio using print, paper, textiles, wood and paint. Most of my recent work has revolved around printmaking (on paper and plywood), but I am now starting to play with surface design onto fabrics.

What materials do you use in your work?

I currently print onto paper and plywood but am exploring surface design onto fabrics. I always try to use sustainable and environmentally sensitive materials in my practice.

What does a typical day look like for you, working as an artist?

Until recently I worked every day from my home-based studio whilst the children were at school. At the end of 2024 I accepted a part-time role at The Scottish Ornithologists Club, where I enjoy curating their contemporary wildlife-themed art exhibitions. This role really complements my own work as an artist, helps me to keep up to date and provides me with creative stimulus. It also allows me to meet and work alongside other artists, which I find very rewarding, especially as working alone in your own studio all day can be very isolating.

Why is sustainability important to you as an artist, and how do you incorporate sustainable practices into your art?

Sustainability and craft are at the heart of my design ethos, and I always try to make products that tread lightly on the planet. From an early age I have been designing and making things that have a minimal impact on the environment, and my degree show in 1999 was all about protecting and celebrating the natural world, and using recycled and organic materials. I later went on to study a master’s in sustainable design and before setting up my own practice, worked for several sustainability consultancies and environmentally focused design companies. I feel that being environmentally conscious is just part of who I am as a designer and so my work has always promoted this.

What advice would you give to other artists trying to create more sustainably?

It is an exciting time to be an artist/designer and to be able to make a real difference with the things we make. We know the threat that climate change and biodiversity loss pose to the planet, and so there is no excuse for not considering the environmental impact of the materials and processes that you are using as a designer, as well as the environmental impact of the products you are making.

Designing sustainability should be a natural and integral part of the design process and should consider things like where materials are sourced, the impact they have on the people producing them, emissions/pollutants from transportation and/or production, the longevity of a product, whether it can be mended/recycled easily, what happens to a product once it has reached the end of its life, the packaging…. I could go on and on! The good news is that there is so much more knowledge, awareness and exciting, sustainably produced, ethical materials available now for designers and artists to draw upon. Not to mention a market of environmentally conscious customers who are keen to buy your designs!

Can you tell us a bit more about your hand-printed decorations?

My hand-printed decorations started life being made by me in my studio at home. I quickly realised, though, that in order to make them cost-effective and viable as a business I need to scale up my production. I wanted to do this in as sustainable a way as possible and so started working with two other small female-led businesses, also based along the East Coast of the UK. I am now able to have my decorations professionally cut using FSC-accredited poplar plywood and then screen-printed off-site using water-based inks (taken from my original lino cut designs). Any waste birds and offcuts are given to the local primary school for the children to decorate.

The decorations have proved so popular, and it is wonderful see them hanging in homes around the UK. They are affordable and easy to post, which probably explains why they were in demand during the Covid pandemic, when I was especially busy with people enjoying sending them to friends and relatives to let them know they were thinking of them.

What projects are you currently working on/what’s next for you as an artist?

I am in the process of developing some new products based on a recent snorkelling and art residency that I’ve been on along the West Coast of Scotland. For this I am exploring printing onto organic fabrics and combining these with naturally dyed wool. It’s an exciting time and I look forward to sharing more soon!

Shop Kate’s gorgeous hand-printed Blackbird hanging decoration and hand-printed Owl hanging decoration, or visit Kate’s website for more of her work.