Meet the Designer

Helen Johnson — Creative Director & Illustrator of Silktopia

Art supplies including a watercolor book, watercolor pan set, and natural history book on a white surface.

Purple thistle flower in a field of green grass

Colourful abstract painting of a flower - purple and blue

Helen Johnson’s creative journey began in the quiet corners of her childhood home in Cheshire. A gift from her parents—a Natural History book brimming with illustrations of British birds, butterflies, and mammals—sparked a lifelong fascination with nature. She would spend hours sketching what she saw, captivated by the delicate beauty of the natural world.

Colorful watercolor painting of flowers including tulips and irises on a white background.

Colorful illustration of a tree with flowers and fruits on a gradient background

Colorful geometric pattern with flowers on a light background

Helen’s early passion for drawing blossomed into a deeper love for artistic expression. She studied Art and Design at Ashton on Mersey School and pursued further training at South Trafford College, completing A-levels in Arts and Crafts along with a Foundation Diploma in Art. Her surroundings—gardens, parks, meadows, flowers and woodlands—continued to inspire her developing style.

Illustration of a person with long hair against a decorative background

Helen Johnson the designer at her Degree Show; Showing floral background.

Graduate in cap and gown sitting on a decorative chair with flowers and a red in the background

Helen went on to study Textile Design at the University of Wolverhampton, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Carpet and Floorcovering Design. There, she learned to balance intricate craftsmanship with functional beauty. Although the traditional carpet industry waned, Helen’s fascination with surface pattern, texture, and storytelling endured.

Colorful underwater scene with fish, a turtle, and sea plants on a watercolor background.

Artwork - Design Development Tropical - Watercolour

Artistic depiction of green, red, and gold leaves on a white background, Seaweed - watercolour

Over time, Helen returned to her first love: drawing. She rekindled her creative practice through watercolours and digital design, developing a distinctive style rooted in the natural world. Her early explorations grew into a broader body of work that would eventually form the foundation of Silktopia.

Floral fabric swatches and a computer screen displaying design software on a desk.

Colorful underwater scene with sea creatures and plants on a white background

Helen launched Silktopia to combine her textile expertise with her illustrations of British flora and fauna. Designed in her Buxton studio, each scarf is lovingly hand-drawn and digitally developed in layers of colour and story. Inspired by wild gardens, folklore, and the slow elegance of silk, her work invites wearers to reconnect with beauty and nature.

Woman with white hair standing in a park with trees and a bench in the background, wearing Blue John Silk scarf - watercolour picture.

Person taking a photo in a scenic rural area with green fields and trees.

Person walking a dog on a path in a forest

Today, Helen finds inspiration on woodland walks in the Peak District, in blooming borders, and in quiet moments with her camera and dog. Her scarves honour the textures, tones, and rhythms of the British countryside—each one a gentle tribute to a life spent observing, drawing, and dreaming.

“Every piece is silk twill, but also a story told in colour and emotion.”

Helen Johnson — Creative Director & Illustrator of Silktopia

A Childhood Spent Drawing

Nurtured by Art and Nature

Textile Roots and a Love for Surface Pattern

A Return to Illustration

Silktopia: A Blooming Vision

A Love for the British Countryside

Helen Johnson — Creative Director & Illustrator of Silktopia

A Childhood Spent Drawing

Nurtured by Art and Nature

Textile Roots and a Love for Surface Pattern

A Return to Illustration

Silktopia: A Blooming Vision

A Love for the British Countryside

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