Nell Beale

In celebration of colour and pattern

• Nell makes classic furniture with vibrant colours and patterns
• Playing with techniques from painting to sgraffito is distinctive of her practice
• She uses the wood composite called Valchromat to enhance her engravings

Nell Beale is a British cabinet designer and furniture maker. After graduating in 1994, she worked at a woodturning company, which provided her insight into making techniques and allowed her to work independently by commission. Since 2012, under the name of her studio CoucouManou, Nell has focused on producing her own designs. She specialises in making sideboards and cabinets, tailoring their dimensions to each customer if needed. Her collections are handmade, and Nell often uses CNC-machinery to programme designs and cut production time. The Valchromat material is one of her go-tos as a canvas for her distinctive sgraffito and intaglio engravings. Organic patterns and nature depicted in a folk or naive art tradition are some of her signature visuals, both being characterised by a very bright colour palette that makes her classic furniture come alive.

Interview

©All rights reserved

©All rights reserved

Could you describe the material called Valchromat that you use?

Valchromat is mainly made from waste wood. Its bonding glue is safe for kids’ furniture and is coloured with organic dyes. I like its density for engraving. Also, some of the fibres do not pick up the dyes, which gives the end result a texture that can almost look like felt.

Does your work nod to any tradition in particular?

People often remark that it reminds them of some era or tradition, but no two people say the same thing. My Wonderland collection takes inspiration from folk and naive art, although this is not intentional on my part. I fell into furniture making and was good at it, but my real passion is colour, pattern, and decorative arts. Furniture is my canvas.

What is the story behind your characteristic use of colour?

I have always been attracted to colour. If I see a particular colour now, it can be very reminiscent of an article of clothing I had, taking me back to that time. I enjoy bringing together a colour palette for my collections. Collating a colour scheme and the painting are my favourite parts of my work.

How do you develop your craft and designs?

An idea, a detail, or a pattern will be in my head, and I may hold on to them for a long time. I sketch, although with some designs, I go straight to the computer and my CAD programme. My latest idea is to use laser cut birch plywood, painted or stained, and use it as you would use veneer in marquetry.

Nell Beale is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1992

Works

©Mike Beckingham

©Jason Dorley Brown

©Manon Navarro

©Mike Beckingham

©Jason Dorley Brown

Where