These are my submissions for Evolve 25, Designer Rugs’ annual design competition, which this year invites entrants to respond to the theme “The Power of Colour.” The competition celebrates innovation and creativity in rug design, with each entry accompanied by a concept statement to explain the inspiration and vision behind the work. I am calling this trio Ionian Reveries. Inspired by the Ionian Islands of Greece, the collection reflects how colour, line, and form can capture memory and atmosphere. The islands’ architecture, horizons, and landscapes provided the foundation for three distinct interpretations — each exploring a different design language while remaining united through palette and spirit.
Echoes of the Horizon — an expressive design where sweeping lines and delicate silhouettes evoke shifting horizons and architectural traces.
Abstracted View — a graphical composition that distills sea, sky, and architecture into bold geometry and layered fields of colour.
Whispers of the Islands — an artistic reflection that combines fine linework with painterly tones to suggest memory, atmosphere, and place.
Together, these three works form a cohesive response to The Power of Colour, celebrating the way colour evokes memory and transforms structure into emotion.
Echoes of the Horizon
This design is inspired by the Ionian islands, where sea, sky, and land merge into shifting horizons. The work captures this
atmosphere through fluid gestures and layered colour fields, held within the circle like a memory contained.
At its centre, a series of sweeping black lines moves across the design. Flowing and interconnected, they act as currents
that tie the composition together — suggesting both the movement of the horizon and the traces of human presence across
the landscape. These lines whisper of architecture, yet never fix it, allowing the imagination to drift between form and
atmosphere.
Behind them, the silhouette of a Grecian building emerges. Reduced to its most elemental shape, it recalls the whitewashed
walls, rooftops, and stairways of Ionian villages. This interplay between flowing lines and grounded silhouette reflects the
relationship between the ever-changing horizon and the permanence of built form.
The palette — muted blues, terracotta, sandy beige, stone, and soft grey — echoes the colours of sea and earth, balancing
warmth and coolness. These are the tones that define the Ionian islands, from sunlit waters to terracotta villages and
weathered stone. Soft and harmonious, they hold a timeless quality, able to complement and adapt to many different interior
settings. The sweeping lines can be extended beyond the circle during production, to create an impression of movement
without end, as though the horizon continues past the rug itself.
The circular format reinforces unity and wholeness, bringing together gesture, colour, and silhouette in balance. Created
through a mixed-media process of hand drawing and digital refinement, the design retains both delicacy and expressive
energy.
Echoes of the Horizon captures the Ionian spirit through the dialogue of line and colour, where memory, place, and
architecture converge in abstraction.
atmosphere through fluid gestures and layered colour fields, held within the circle like a memory contained.
At its centre, a series of sweeping black lines moves across the design. Flowing and interconnected, they act as currents
that tie the composition together — suggesting both the movement of the horizon and the traces of human presence across
the landscape. These lines whisper of architecture, yet never fix it, allowing the imagination to drift between form and
atmosphere.
Behind them, the silhouette of a Grecian building emerges. Reduced to its most elemental shape, it recalls the whitewashed
walls, rooftops, and stairways of Ionian villages. This interplay between flowing lines and grounded silhouette reflects the
relationship between the ever-changing horizon and the permanence of built form.
The palette — muted blues, terracotta, sandy beige, stone, and soft grey — echoes the colours of sea and earth, balancing
warmth and coolness. These are the tones that define the Ionian islands, from sunlit waters to terracotta villages and
weathered stone. Soft and harmonious, they hold a timeless quality, able to complement and adapt to many different interior
settings. The sweeping lines can be extended beyond the circle during production, to create an impression of movement
without end, as though the horizon continues past the rug itself.
The circular format reinforces unity and wholeness, bringing together gesture, colour, and silhouette in balance. Created
through a mixed-media process of hand drawing and digital refinement, the design retains both delicacy and expressive
energy.
Echoes of the Horizon captures the Ionian spirit through the dialogue of line and colour, where memory, place, and
architecture converge in abstraction.
Abstracted View
This design is inspired by the Ionian islands, where sea, sky, and land align in rhythmic layers. Here, the horizon and
architecture are distilled into bold geometry: arcs, curves, and stacked forms that capture both the movement of water and
the presence of built structures. The composition is graphical and precise, yet retains a sense of openness, as though the
view itself were abstracted into rhythm and shape.
Colour anchors the design. The palette — deep blue, muted teal, terracotta, sandy beige, limestone white, warm clay, soft
grey, and golden light — is drawn directly from the Ionian landscape. These are the tones of water, stone, sun, and village
walls, simplified into clear fields of colour. The power of colour lies here in its ability to define form while evoking memory,
transforming simple shapes into an emotional connection to place.
The circle becomes a metaphor for the island itself; contained yet complete, a form that can be traversed from edge to edge
like the walkable scale of the Ionian towns. It holds this abstracted view as the islands hold themselves; intimate yet
boundless, compact yet surrounded by vast horizons.
Created through a mixed-media process that combines hand drawing with digital refinement, the work is distilled into
strong, clean areas of colour. Graphical but harmonious, it has a striking presence while remaining versatile across different
settings.
Abstracted View celebrates the power of colour and form to turn structure into atmosphere, offering an interpretation of the
Ionian islands that is emotional, architectural, and timeless.
architecture are distilled into bold geometry: arcs, curves, and stacked forms that capture both the movement of water and
the presence of built structures. The composition is graphical and precise, yet retains a sense of openness, as though the
view itself were abstracted into rhythm and shape.
Colour anchors the design. The palette — deep blue, muted teal, terracotta, sandy beige, limestone white, warm clay, soft
grey, and golden light — is drawn directly from the Ionian landscape. These are the tones of water, stone, sun, and village
walls, simplified into clear fields of colour. The power of colour lies here in its ability to define form while evoking memory,
transforming simple shapes into an emotional connection to place.
The circle becomes a metaphor for the island itself; contained yet complete, a form that can be traversed from edge to edge
like the walkable scale of the Ionian towns. It holds this abstracted view as the islands hold themselves; intimate yet
boundless, compact yet surrounded by vast horizons.
Created through a mixed-media process that combines hand drawing with digital refinement, the work is distilled into
strong, clean areas of colour. Graphical but harmonious, it has a striking presence while remaining versatile across different
settings.
Abstracted View celebrates the power of colour and form to turn structure into atmosphere, offering an interpretation of the
Ionian islands that is emotional, architectural, and timeless.
Abstracted View was shortlisted for the Evolve 2026 competition and awarded Highly Commended in the Under 30 category.
The realisation of the piece involved a considered translation from initial drawing to material outcome. This included the careful selection of a colour palette that remained faithful to the original composition, alongside the refinement of tonal balance and contrast across the design.
Particular attention was given to defining varying pile heights, using texture and depth to emphasise key geometries and enhance the spatial qualities of the composition. This process allowed the design to shift subtly with light and perspective, reinforcing its sense of movement and dimensionality.
Whispers of the Islands
This design is inspired by the Ionian islands, where memory of place is carried in colour, line, and light. The work brings
together the delicacy of hand-drawn line with painterly fields of tone, suggesting both the rhythm of the sea and the
architecture of the villages that rise along its shores. It is less a literal image than a recollection — a view softened by
distance and emotion.
A series of fine lines traces the suggestion of Ionian architecture: arches, rooftops, and stairways stacked in irregular
rhythm. They cascade across the composition as though drawn from the experience of wandering through the villages —
lost in their layers, absorbing their forms. These lines mimic that sensation of being surrounded, of architecture unfolding
endlessly, while also echoing the way memory blurs edges but holds on to essence. Beneath them, layered fields of colour
reflect the landscape itself.
The palette — limestone white, sandy beige, warm terracotta, weathered taupe, soft silver-grey, muted blue-grey, deep slate,
and midnight blue — reflects the Ionian islands in tones of stone, sun, and sea. Subtle and harmonious, these colours shift
like the light across the landscape, from dawn warmth to evening shadow. Their quiet strength gives the design a timeless
quality, adaptable to many different settings while carrying the essence of place.
The circle frames this composition, holding within it both the permanence of architecture and the transience of atmosphere.
Like the islands themselves, the form is compact yet expansive, intimate yet surrounded by vast horizons. The lines and
colours, though contained, seem to continue beyond the boundary, as though memory itself cannot be confined.
Created through a mixed-media process of drawing and digital refinement, the work is distilled into eight tones and
simplified line. Artistic and evocative, it is designed to translate into textile while retaining a sense of layered depth.
Whispers of the Islands celebrates how colour and line can preserve the emotional essence of place — a poetic reflection of
the Ionian islands where nature, architecture, and memory converge.
together the delicacy of hand-drawn line with painterly fields of tone, suggesting both the rhythm of the sea and the
architecture of the villages that rise along its shores. It is less a literal image than a recollection — a view softened by
distance and emotion.
A series of fine lines traces the suggestion of Ionian architecture: arches, rooftops, and stairways stacked in irregular
rhythm. They cascade across the composition as though drawn from the experience of wandering through the villages —
lost in their layers, absorbing their forms. These lines mimic that sensation of being surrounded, of architecture unfolding
endlessly, while also echoing the way memory blurs edges but holds on to essence. Beneath them, layered fields of colour
reflect the landscape itself.
The palette — limestone white, sandy beige, warm terracotta, weathered taupe, soft silver-grey, muted blue-grey, deep slate,
and midnight blue — reflects the Ionian islands in tones of stone, sun, and sea. Subtle and harmonious, these colours shift
like the light across the landscape, from dawn warmth to evening shadow. Their quiet strength gives the design a timeless
quality, adaptable to many different settings while carrying the essence of place.
The circle frames this composition, holding within it both the permanence of architecture and the transience of atmosphere.
Like the islands themselves, the form is compact yet expansive, intimate yet surrounded by vast horizons. The lines and
colours, though contained, seem to continue beyond the boundary, as though memory itself cannot be confined.
Created through a mixed-media process of drawing and digital refinement, the work is distilled into eight tones and
simplified line. Artistic and evocative, it is designed to translate into textile while retaining a sense of layered depth.
Whispers of the Islands celebrates how colour and line can preserve the emotional essence of place — a poetic reflection of
the Ionian islands where nature, architecture, and memory converge.
